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Hoccle\re Minor Poems
ref .: line, unless otherwise noted.
ci^aKtedil PP .178-215.
?alU30(?clii22
Vrr. in ftnts
MS A : ?a
Hocc!
(?alli3n) Horri
?all430 (?ollilO) noe e l
uitw
(Hnt) .^f^^
al60$(clU22) Hoccl. Coapl. (Dut;^ pp. 95-110.
Use other Hoccleve mate^Lal in preference
to this if possible. The only MS ed. in fidl
(Dur-U) is a Stow coprjr, modernized.
If necessary to quote « give vrr. from MS
Seld (in ftnts.) if possible: allt^O (Seld)
c iUi;o n o cci. cupia (Px ^>- T/^MSf^^ pp .72-91 .
Non-pref jen^f . MS is edited ^ ^^^
in Part 2, pp.20-3U.
^rr, in ftnts.:
B= clU75 (Bod)
D= clli^O (Dgb)
[S= cl500 (Seld) -Do not use vrr. from
this MS which is SCOTS and UTE.]
[Sp:: Speght's edition of 1602. -Do not
use vrr. from this printed edition.]
T= alU50 (Tan)
Further vrr. on pp.2U9-253 from:
Sl^ alit56 (Trin-C)
[A - Pref . MS Hnt. See Part 2, pp.20-3U.]
al605(clU22)^cl. Dial. j^.-UJ pp.llO-119,as
marked. ft:«f /US for l^j!fesri-252 . But since it is «
Stow copy with cbi\sid»'ab2e modernization, other
Hoccleve material ^mcntld be used in preference.
Vrr . from MS S^ld^ sho^tld be used whenever possible
with the stendil: alU50 mqccI Jial . (Seld :Pumivall '
T/^/i/i^^ f^^^
°\ S <=/ <(k \kI
jJalJ[j^(clU^) Hoccl ^laly (l^-U) pp .119-139, as
Pref J!S f orpines 2^3^26. "^'"'^ marked.
7rr. for liiieX{i98r826 from MS Seld
(dated alU50)^ii7 be added from shelf /^-.c?
3%^h3 0- (1U13 ) nooel . Ibii .V Aucea . (Hit ) jpp .39 =ttO .
?a3i^;g^^ alU22) IIucul . H Biny-J L KO (ifat JL-pi^^ftigidT
?a
iliil!?) Itoeel. Ifeu.Y MuiJBj> (H f Vl) p: ^^;
0(?cllt2$) Hoccl. Jonathas to6rrJJ) pp.21$-2U2.
T: liiwsfor verse, 'p* plxSipa^
no. for prose. >/ <^X^'^ ^tvu.
Vtt, in ftnts^i,^ /^ 4
R. or Regv^^ ?]J«^ Hoccl. Jonathas (Rpy)
?alli30(clli22) Hoc
ref •:
line f oc/verse, »^ plus page
no« for prose
Vrr. on ppi255-258 (=MS R
?clU25 Hoecl^Jtfife (fioQr
• • •
?al4^0(?»l454))-lteeel^^|g-(H^tr \ T^^^'^^-rpert 1,
1
\
Vip* 52-56.
• • • •
^sl-^'OCnS) • ■..' • , -:!^ ^.-,-^
s
.>
^icW l-22ffKff). m-HI, /7f x/^^,u/AV, t.£. /40//7
rrausPZ^ TO <:^^^^ CJ>^.^ A^, ^
.£*£
?al4?e-fi
?a l4?0 n u Lul.
gKjH. (flat )- r/e/)*/Fte ^^'^ i»
pp. 47-49
T/^/Ca/ s ri/t.
• • • •
Non-prf^f, MS,
?ref* MS (dated ?al425) is edited in
Part :', pp. 196-197, as marked.
Part 1,
p. 61,
• • • •
?el4-?0{?Hi4f
• • • •
• • •
y8.14?0(al41bj Hoccir Tgrr -tHrTO
7
Part 1,
pp. 64-66.
Part 1,
pp. 67-72,
Part 1,
pp. 49-41.
[Transfer poems on the following
pages as direct in the book:
Part 1, 25-59, 56-57, 59-60,
65-64.]
^{[([i^ti^^s ?i;0iik.
I. THE MINOE POEMS.
tfjrfra Struu. |to. LXI.
1892.
{RepHtaed 1937)
0r£li[ri['5 MtfiiftH^
I. THE MINOR POEMS
IN THE PHILLIPPS MS. 8151 (CHELTENHAM)
AND THE DURHAM MS. III. 9.
XDITBD BT
FREDERICK J. FURNIVALL,
POVNDEB AND DIRECTOR OF THE EARLY ENGLISH TEXT ScfciBTt
LONDON :
FITBLISHED FOR THE BABLY ENGLISH TEXT SOCIETY
By HUMPHREY MILFORD, OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS,
AMEN HOUSE, E.C.4.
1892.
{Reprinted 1937)
E\3e,
.3
»> w
"I
TO THE MEMORY OF
MY MUCH-RESPECTED AND DEEPLY-REGRETTED GIRL-FRIEND
THE LOVER OF SHAKSPERE AND BROWNING.
€dr'a Citrus*
Printed in Obsat Britain B7 Riouabd Clat & Sons, Limited,
bunoat, suffolk.
if
C.L
Sen
6', 2 3.6^ ^
CONTENTS.
FAGB
FOUBWORDS. § 1. H0CCLEVB*8 LIPBi AND DATED POEMS ... vii
§ 2. HIS LOVE OP CHAUCER XXX
§ 3. HIS PATRONS, ASSOCIATES, AND CHARACTER XXXiv
§ 4. COMMENTS ON SOME OF HIS POEMS, HIS
LANGUAGE, AND HIS METRE ... .,. XXXix
„ § 6. TEXT-COPYING, AND THANKS TO HELPERS... xlvii
APPENDIX OP ENTRIES ABOUT GRANTS AND PAYMENTS
TO HOCCLEVB, PROM THE PRIVY-COUNCIL PROCEED-
INGS, THE PATENT- AND ISSUE-ROLLS, AND THE
RECORD OFPICE, BY MR. R. B. G. KIUK if
POEMS. THE PHILLIPPS MS.
L THE COMPLEYNTE OP THE VIRGIN BEPORB THE CROSS 1
IL ADDRESS TO SIR JOHN OLDCASTLB, A.D. 1415 8
in. LA MALE REGLE DB T. HOCCLEUE, A.D. 1406 25
IV. BALADE TO KING HENRY V. ON HIS ACCESSION TO THE
THRONE, 21 MARCH, 1413 ... ... 39
V, VI. TWO BALADES TO HENRY V. AND THE KNIGHTS OF THE
GARTER •>• ••*. ••• ••• •*. ... 4x
VIL AD BEATAM VIRGINEM ... ... ... ... ... 43
VIII. BALADE, AFTER K. RICHARD IL's BONES WERE BROUGHT
TO WESTMINSTER, A.D. 1413 ... ... ... 47
IX. BALADE TO MY GRACIOUS LORD OF YORK, ABOUT 1448, A.D. 49
X. AD BEATAM VIRGINEM. THE ** MOTHER OP GOD " ... 52
XI. BALADE TO THE DUKE OF BEDFORD, REGENT OF FRANCE,
1 AB. 1411-12, A.D. ... ... ... ... ... 56
XII. BALADE TO MY LORD THE CHANCELLOR, % AB. 1405-10, A.D. 58
ZIII. BALADE AND ROUNDEL OR OHANCEON TO MR. HENRY
SOMBR, SUBTREASURER, A.D. 1407 1 ... ... 59
XIV. BALADE PUT AT THE END OF HOCCLEVE's " REGEMENT
OF PRINCES," A.D. 1412 ... 61
XV. BALADE TO KING HENRY V., FOR MONEY, 1 1415-16, A.D. 62
XVL BALADE TO MY MAISTER CARPENTER, ? ABOUT 1412 ... 63
vi Contents.
THE PROLOG : HOCOLEVB's TALK WITH HIS FRIEND
THE TALE ••• ••• ... ••• •••
THE MORALIZATION
HOCOLEVB*S DEDICATION TO LADY WESTMORLAND
PA.OK
XVU. BALADE, BY THE COURT OP GOOD COMPANY, TO SIR
HENRY SOMER, CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER,
APRIL 1410 ... ... ... ... ... 64
XVIII. BALADE TO THE VIRGIN AND CHRIST, ENGLISHT FOR
MASTER ROBERT CHICHELE 67
XIX. THE LETTER OP CUPID, A.D. 1402 ... 72
POEMS. THE DURHAM MS.
XX. THOMAS HOCCLBVB's COMPLAINT, A.D. 1421-2 95
XXI. HOCCLEVE's dialog with a FRIEND 110
XXII. THE TALE OF JERESLAUS'S WIFE AND HER FALSE
BROTHER-IN-LAW, FROM GESTA BOMANORUM ... 140
„ THE MORALIZATION 175
XXIII. LERNE TO DYE. PART 1. IN VERSE 178
„ THE END IN PROSE ... ... ... ... ... 213
XXIV. THE TALE OF JONATHAS, HIS MAGIC RING, BROOCH, AND
CLOTH, AND HIS DECEITFUL CONCUBINE PELLICULA,
FROM GESTA ROMANORUM ...
215
215
219
240
242
NOTES.
1. FOR ** THE LETTER OF CUPID." fl. EXTRACTS FROM
L^EPI$TRE d'aMOURj BY CHRISTINE DE PISAN ... 243
2. b, COLLATION OF THE ASHBURNHAM AND SHIRLEY MSS. 249
3. FOR ^^JEBSSLAU^S WIFE J* COLLATION OF MS. REG.
17 D. VI. IN THE BRITISH MUSEUM 255
GLOSSARIAL INDEX BY MR. T. AUSTIN. ... ... ... 259
INDEX OF NAMES OP PERSONS AND PLACES, BY MR. T.
AUSTIN ... ... ... ... ... ••• 267
The Liat of Hoccleve*s. Minor Ppems in the Ashburnham MS. 133 is at p.
xxvii of the Forewords. Hoccleve's only other work is his RegemerU of Princes,
HOCCLEVE'S RHYMES AND CHAUCER'S
VIRELAYS.
[Reprinted from The Athenceum, March 4, 1893, p. 281.1
CuAUCEB tells us that he wrote " virelayes " ; see * Legend of
Good Women/ 423. Unfortunately, they are all lost but two ,
and these two do not seem to have been noticed.
There is a so-called * Virelay ' in Mozon's edition, p. 439 ; but
it was first attributed to Chaucer by Stowe in 1561, and is of
quite late date ; see my edition of the * Minor Poems,' p. xxxL
I shall only observe here that it is not a true virelay ; for the
rhymes do not recur as they should.
The sole existing specimens both occur in 'Anelida,' lines
256-271 and 317-332. The arrangement of rhymes is as follows :
aaahaaab, followed by hhhcbbhha. The repetition of the same
rhymes in a different order is the essential point in a virelay.
In Dr. Fumivall's excellent new editions of Hoccleve I find
some more examples, though they are not noted as being such.
I wish to draw attention to them, as they are of high interest.
Take, for example, Balade IV., at p. 39. The editor says, " in
five-measure eights, ahaht hchc.** This is true as far as it goes,
but does not convey any adequate idea of the extreme intricacy
of the metre. The description given only applies to .the first
stanza. But aU tlie other stanzas actually employ the very same
rhymes, but in a veering order. In the whole poem of forty
lines there are but three rhymes, viz. in -cU, in -ee, and in -ay.
And this is the order of them.
First stanza : a>bab, bcbc.
Second stanza : chcb, baba.
Third stanza : abab, bcbc. (Same as the first.)
Fourth stanza : cbcb, baha, (Same as the second.)
Fifth stanza : acac, cbcb.
There are here three variations in the order.
Balade Y. (p. 41) is another specimen of intricate rhyming.
2 hocclevb's rhymes and Chaucer's virelays.
The formula is as follows for the four stanzas : (1) ahah, hcbc,
(2) the same, (3) the same, (4) the same. In the thirty-two lines
there are but three rhymes.
Balade VL (p. 42) is precisely like it. However, neither of
these is a virelay ; there is no veer.
Balade VIII. (p. 47) furnishes us with a still more intricate
specimen. The first five stanzas arrange the rhymes as in Balade
rV. above. But there is a new arrangement in stanza 6, viz.
hchc, caca. Hence there are here four variations instead of three.
In forty-eight lines there are but three rhymes, viz. in -ee, -oun,
and -et/e. A knowledge of this is important phonetically ; for a
rhyme in -et/ (instead of the feminine -eye) would be inadmissible.
Balade IX. is interesting as reproducing the metre in ' Anelida,'
220-255, 281-316 ; so we know whence the form of it came.
Balade XII. is an excellent specimen of a virelay. In the
three stanzas we get the three varieties, as in Balade lY., stanzas
1, 2, and 5. The three rhymes are -entf -esse, -ee,
Balade XIII. begins with an excellent virelay. The first three
stanzas are, in form, precisely like Balade XII. ; but all the
rhymes are feminine. The rhyme-endings are -esse, -inge, -aiUe,
Stanza 4 is, metrically, rather a drop, as it introduces new
rhymes. But the roundel that succeeds is good.
Balade XIV. is a virelay. The first and third stanzas end
alike, viz. in ahah, hchc. The second stanza has chch, haha.
Balade XV. is a virelay, precisely like Balade XII.
Hence Hoccleve actually presents us with true virelays in
Balades XII., XV., and three stanzas of XIII., with three vari-
ations. Balade IV. is another, but the third and fourth stanzas
are additional, and merely repeat the rhymes of the first and
second. Balade VIII. introduces yet a fourth variation. Balade
XIV. has but two variations.
We can all guess whence Hoccleve learnt his metres. It seems
to me a most interesting fact that, though we have not got many
of Chaucer's eight-line virelays, we now know precisely how they
all went.
Walter W. Skeat.
[Correction for Hoccleve's Minor Poems, I., p. 217.]
"MAGGE, THE GOOD[E] KOW."— p. 217.
[Reprinted from The Academy, April 1, 1893, pp. 285-6.]
"thb cow is wood" in chauceb.
Cambridge : March 19, 1893.
In the New EngKsh Dictionary, s.v. chough, we learn that cow
here means '* chough"; viz., in the "Wife of Bath's Prologue,"
). 232. I once further explained (in the Aoademt, April 5,
1890) that the allusion is to a story of "The Tell-tale Bird"
kind, so well discussed hy Mr. Clouston in Originals and Analogues,
p. 437 (Chaucer Society).
In Dr. Furnivairs new edition of Hoccleve there is a capital
example of a similar usage; and (with Dr. Furnivairs kind
permission) I beg leave to call attention to it, because it seems
to have escaped notice. I must quote the whole of two stanzas
on p. 217 :
" Frend, looth me were ' nay ' seye vnto yow,
But y suppose, it may noon othir be ;
liOst wommen vnto Magge, the good[e] kow,
Me likne, and thus seye — ' 0, beholde and see
The double man 1 0, yondir, lo, gooth he
That hony first yaf , and now yeueth galle ;
He f o in herte is vnto wommen alle ;
" Til he of wommen oute wordes wikke.
He fastynge is, him seemeth ; al the day
Out of his mowth lesynges swarmen thikke ;
On wommen no good word afEoorthe he may ;
And if he wel speke or wryte, is no nay,
He nat meneth as he spekith or writ :
lewde dotepol 1 straw for his wit ! "
In the last line but one the printed text has msue^, i.e.,
" moveth." I read it as meneth, t.e., " meaneth." The verb oute
means ** utter." I would further suggest that the MS. reading,
4 "magge, the good[e] kow."
the good cow, is a scribal error for ths woode cow, i.e,, ** the mad
jack-daw.'' The scribe evidently missed the point, and avoided
writing what (to him) seemed to be nonsense.
I now give a sufficient paraphntee :
" My friend, it would grieve me to refuse you, but I suppose I
cannot do otherwise (than translate, as you ask me to do, a tale
about an evil v^oman). I fear lest women should liken me to
Mag, the mad jack-daw, and say — 'Behold the double-minded
man 1 See yonder, there goes he who formerly gave men honey,
and now gives them gall ; he is a foe, at heart, to all womankind.
He seems to himself to be fasting, till he utters wicked words
about women. lies swarm thickly out of his mouth. He cannot
afPord women one good word; and if ever he speaks or writes
well of us, it cannot be denied that he does not mean what he
speaks or writes. Ignorant blockhead 1 A straw for his wit I ' "
Not only have we here a new allusion to the evil words which
jack-daws speak of women, but we have what I suppose to be
by far the earliest eiukmple of the name Mag (Margaret) as
applied to a chattering bird. Shakspere has "magot-pie," and
modern English has " magpie.*' It would be interesting to learn
if some other MS. can be found in which the original word woode
(or wode) is retained.
Walter W. Skeat.
I don't know of another copy of this Link between Hoccleve's two stories
from the Gesta lUnnanorum. — F. J. F.
Vll
FOREWORDS.
§ 1. Hoccleve's life and dated Poems,
p. vii. (The Ashbumham MS,
p. zxyii).
§ 2. His Love of Chancer, p. xzz.
§ 8. His Patrons, Associates and Cha-
racter, p. xxxiv.
§ 4. Comments on some of his Poems,
Metre and Language, p. zxxix.
§ 5. Text-copying, and Thanks to Helpers, p. xlv.
HoccLEVE must have got his name, says Mr. Kirk, from the
pleasant village of Hockliffe in Bedfordshire,^ on the Roman road,
Watling St., 4 J miles S. of Wobum, and 3^ E. of Leighton Buzzard. ^
^ At Mr. Overend's suggestion, Mr. Kirk searcht the Subsidy Rolls. Those
for Hoccleye's father's time seem to be lost, but earlier ones mention a Richard
de Hoclyve, who may (or may not) have been the poet's grandfather.
Lay Subsidy Roll, Bedford, ^.
t3 Edw. II (July, 1309-10), Roll of a 25th granted to the King.
Hundred of Manshead. Hokkely ve. (28 names. )
Of Richard de Hokkelyve, 4^. 6 jd
Of the Master of Hokkelyve, Qs. 5d,
Sum of the whole township, 7d«.
t8 Edw. II (July, 1814-15), Roll of a 20th and 15th granted to the King.
Township of Hoclyve.
Of the Hospital of Hoclyve, Ha, 6d,
Of Richard de Hoclyve, 5«. 6d,
88 names.
Sum of this township, il. Is, Oid,
[10 Edw. II, July, 1316-17], Roll of a 16th granted to the Kmg.
Township of Hoclyve.
Of the Master of the Hospital, 9«.
Of Richard de Hoclyve, 65. ^^d,
80 names.
Sum of the township, il. Is, lOd,
H.
6 Edw. Ill (no month), a 15th and a 10th. " Hoclyve."
Only 15 names. The Master of the Hospital is mentioned, but no surname of
Hoclyve. Sum 26s, 6d,
On *' Occleve or Hocclyf," Bedfordshire, Tanner says. Vet, Mon,, B 2, back),
" Here was an hospital of a master and several brethren, as ancient as King
John's Reign. It was dedicated to St. John Baptist." See too Dugdale, VI.
iL 753. t No month given.
Mr. Stevenson suggests that Hoccleve must have been a West-countryman,
as Cleves prevail in the West. We Thames folk know Cleve Lock and Mill
viii § 1. Hoccleve's Life and dated Poems. Born 1368-9.
The chief authorities for the life of Hoccleve are his Male Regie
in the Phillipps MS, his Dialog with the old Beggar in his Regement
of Princes, his Complaint and Dialog with a friend in the Durham
MS, and the entries about him in the Privy-Council Proceedings
and the Patent and Pells-Issue Rolls.
In his Dialog (a.p. 1421-2), p. 125-6 below, Hoccleve speaks
of Henry V*s victories in France, and of Humfrey, Duke of Gloster,
being Lieutenant of the Kingdom (125/533) while Henry was in
France. This was from 10 June, 1421, to 31 August, 1422, when
the King died at Vincennes. In the same poem Hoccleve says,
** Of age am I fifty winter and thra" He must therefore have been
bom in 1368-9. The date of his englishing of De Regimine Prin-
cipum is 1411-12 ; and in that poem he says, that he had been then
above Streatley and Goring ; and if this Cleve could be added to the Berk-
shire river Ock which joins the Thames at Abingdon, we should get Occleve.
Walker's Gazetteer ^ 1801, gives : —
*'Cleeve, Devonsh. near Culliton. Cleeve, Glouc, in Westbury parish.
Cleeve, Bishop's, Glouc, 5 miles from Tewkesbury. Cleeve Prior, Wore, 6
miles N. E. of Evesham.
** Cleve, Kent, near Ightam, or Ilkham. Cleve, Kent, in the Isle of Thanet.
Cleve, Shropsh., S. of Wem. Cleve, Somers., near Bridgewater. Clevedon,
Somers., on the sea-side, nearly opposite to the Flatholm. Cleveland, Yorksh.,
N. Riding, a tract on the borders of Durham. CUvelod, Wore. Cleve, Old,
Somersetsh., S.W of Watchet. Cleverton, Wilts., near Malmsbury."
The ffocks are well scattered, tho most of the Ocks are in the West. The
nearest name in sound to Hoccleve, besides the Hockliffe given above, is
Hocklough in Northumberland, near AUanton. Walker gives : —
** RockenTiall, Chesh., near Tarvin. Hockerell, Hertfordsh., near Bishop's
Stortford. Hockerill, Dorsetsh., near Nottington and Broadway. Eockerton,
Netting., N.E. of Southwell, ffocket, Kent, near Harden. Hockford, Devonsh.,
in Stockworthy parish. Hockham, Great and Little, Norf., W. of Buckenham.
. . . Hockhold, Norfolk. Hockley in the Hole, Bedf., 5 miles N. of Dunstable.
Hockley in the Hole, Essex, near S. Fambridge, in a miry road, often overflowed
in the winter. It is a long range of houses, chiefly inns. Hockridge, Devonsh.,
N.W. of Exeter. Hockring, Norfolk, N.E. of E. Dereham. Hockwold, Norf.,
3 miles from Brandon. Hockworthy, Devonsh., N. of Stamford Peverel.
Hoconib Hill, Middlesex, between Mill Hill and Highwood Hill.
** Ock, a river in Berkshire, whic,h runs into the Thames at Abingdon. Ock,
a river in Devonshire, which runs into the Towridge, below Hatherley. . . . Ock-
hrooke, 5 miles from Derby. Ockenden, N. and 8., Essex, S. of Cranham. . . .
Ockeridge, Gloucestersh., a hamlet to Bisley. Ockerton, Oxfordsh., W. of Ban-
bury. Ockford, Dorsetsh., in Marchwood Vale. Ockford, Child, Superior and
Inferior, Dorsetsh., E. of the Stour. . Ockford FUzpaine, Dorsetsh., 3 miles S.E.
of Sturminster, Newton. OcArMm, Surrey, S.E. of Woking. Ockleston, ChQah..,
S. of Middlewich. Ockley, Bucks., N.W. of Tame. OckUy, Worcestersh., near
Salwarp. Ockley, Great and Little, Northamptonsh., by Rockingham Forest.
0cA?foy-Par^-5b2^«e, Shropsh., near Ludlow. Ockold, ^\mo\k S. of Eye. Ocidl
and Ocull'Pichard, N.E. of Hereford."
§ 1. Hoccleve's Lif^. Enterd the Privy-Seal Office at 19. ix
24 years, come Easter, in the Privy-Seal Office.^ He must have
therefore gone into that OflQce in 1387-8, when he was 19 or 20
years old. Let us say 1387, and then the date fits the first document
in which Hoccleve is mentioned in the Privy- Council Proceedings
and Ordinances^ 1386-1400, ed. Nicholas, 1834, voL i, p. 88 : —
[** Additional MS in Brit. Mus. 4596, Art. 128, a modem tran
* " In the office of the prive-seel I wone ; 802
To write there is my custume and wone
Unto the seel, and have twenty yere
And foure, come Estren, and tnat is nere." — Ed. "Wright, p. 29.
And again, at p. 37 of the same Roxburghe Club book, and p. xvii below : —
" What man that twenty yere and more
In writyng hath contynued?, as haue I,
I doe wele sey it smerteth hym futt sore
In every veyne and place of his body ;
And yen most it greveth truly,
Of ony craft that man kan ymacyne :
Fader, in feith, it spilt hath welny me."
Sir Harris Nicolas says, in his Preface to vol. vi of The Proceedings and
Ordinances of the Privy Council of England^ 1837, p. cxlii — ^iii :
"the Crown made several attempts to render the Privy Seal, and even the
King's Signets of equal authority to the Great SeaL
" The Privy Seal was in the Custody of the Clerk of the Privy Seal, who was
sometimes called the Keeper, and afterwards Lord Privy Seal,* who was a
Member of the King's Council as early as the reign of Edward the Third, and
who was then, if not before, a responsible Minister of the Crown. The Signet,
and perhaps the other Small Seals, which will be again alluded to, were always
kept by the King's Secretary, or by the King himself."
The King's Signet was in the custody of his Secretary, as his private letters
were signd with it. The Clerk of the Signet wrote out such Grants or Letters
Patent as past, by Bills signd by the King, to the Privy Seal. This Signet-
seald copy was a Warrant to the Privy Seal ; and the Privy Seal was a Warrant
to the Great Seal : Lord Coke, Second Institute 556 ; Nicolas, ib, clxxxvi — vii.
Statutes checking the wrong uses of the Signet and Privy Seal for illegal grants
&c. are 13 Ric. II (1889), 8 Hen. IV (1406), and 18 Hen. VI, ch. L
As to the King's Secretary and the holder of the Privy Seal, Sir H. Nicolas
says, xb, czxxii — ^iv :
"While learning was to l)e found only in the cloister, the King's Secretary
was a Priest ; and a layman never appears to have held that situation until the
middle of the reign of King Henry VlII. After a few years' service he was
frequently promoted to the office of Keeper of the Privy Seal, and was some-
times rewarded with a Mitre .... Though the first of the King's Secretaries, of
whom the name has been discovered, was a Member of the Council, it was not
until towards the middle of Henry the Sixth's reign that they were always Privy
Councillors. As the affairs of the Country were then conducted entirely by the
King and his Continual or Privy Council, his Secretary, when a Member of the
Council, of course shared the responsibility of the other Councillors ; but except
in being one of the Kind's Councillors, he was a mere executive Officer, answerable
only to the Sovereign himself ..."
Coke's Stcond InttUvU, p. 664.
X § 1. Eoccleve*8 JUfe. Privy-Seal Office. Traind as a Priest,
script This document is presumed to belong to about the 9th or
lOth Eic II. (22 June, 1385, to 21 June, 1387), as Sir John Clan-
vowe, who is mentioned therein, was retained to serve in the King's
expedition into Scotland in 1385, and is supposed to have died before
April 1390.]
'^ Sensuent les nouns des persones as quaux le Consail estoit
accordez que briefs de liberate soient grantez pour les causes desouz
expressees, sur les fees et annuitees a eux grantez et confermez ....
MonstCMr Johan Clanvowe \ Par cause quils f urent ovesqwc le
Monsiewr Eob^ Whitteneye > Eoy en Escoce ....
Monsi^r Thomas Bret j
Thomas Hoccleve^ \
Rob^ Frye f Par cause quils sount clers en l»'offise du
Johan Hethe j prive seaL^
WiUiam Plete )
Hoccleve meant at first to be a priest^: — "I whilom thought
Have ben a preest ; now past is the raas." De Reg., p. 52, L 1147-8.
He probably enterd the Privy-Seal Office till he could get a benefice
^ The payment to Hoccleve referred to in the Privy-Council proceedings has
not been found in any of the rolls for 1385-7. It may have been of a similar
nature to the payment made to the Chancery clerks in 1387, in the Pells 'Issue
Rolls for Easter, 10 Ric. II : — Payment to divers clerks of the Chancery of the
Kin^s gift, for their labour in copying Chancery enrolments and sending them
to the Exchequer for execution.
The roll for Easter, 10 Ric. II (a.d. 1387), contains a payment of 6Z. IZs. id.
to Ouy de Eoclyff, one qf the clerks in the office of the Privy Seal, sent by order
of the Lords of the Council as messenger to the King, ''for certain matters
touching the state of the King and the Kingdom." — R. G. Kirk.
' Mr. Kirk cannot find any entries relating to Hoccleve or his fellow-clerks
in the Pells Issue Rolls of 1388-90, tho there are others relating to payments for
parchment, to Chaucer, &o. : —
1388, Easter, 11 Ric. II. Payment to John Blyth (as below).
1388, Mich., 12 Ric. II. 20 October, Tuesday. To John Blyth, ** pergame-
narius " of Lincoln, for parchment bought of him '' as well for the office of
the Privy Seid, as for tne Great Exchequer and the Receipt thereof," kc,
101, [This is probably the " Blitn" mentioned in later entries. See
Appendix].
1389, Easter, 12 Ric. II. Three payments to Blyth and another, for parchment.
Two Chaucer entries.
1389, Mich., 13 Ric. II. Two payments to Blyth. Six Chaucer entries.
1390, Easter, 13 Ric. II. Three payments to Blyth. Six Chaucer entries.
1390, Mich., 14 Ric. II. Two payments to Blyth. Six Chaucer entries.
John Prophete (see p. xiv below, note 1) is described as ** Clerk" only.
Payment to "the Clerks of the Chancery." (See also Easter, 11 Ric. II.
They seem to have had occasional " rewards " in the same way as the Clerks
in the Privy-Seal office).
' Miss L. T. Smith says, in Anglia v. 15, that it may be concluded he was
bred to the law. This was only because he livd in Chester's Inn.
§ 1. HoccVs Life, Pensiond in 1399. " Letter of Cupid " 1402. xi
promiBt him, and then meant to be ordaind and take the endowment.
But no benefice came. Instead, after twelve years' office-work, Hoc-
cleve got from Henry IV, on Nov. 12, 1399, (six weeks after his
accession), the grant of £10 a year for life, or until the King should
promote him to an ecclesiastical benefice, without cure of souls, worth
£20 a year, in other words, quarter him on a convent^ (see Appendix
I). The first payment of this Annuity, to Michaelmas 1400, namely
£8 158, Sd., was made to Hoccleve on Dec. 13, 1400 (App. II),
The EoU for Easter, 2 Hen. lY, 1401, is missing, but no doubt the
poet drew his half-yearly £5, as we know he did the payment due
at Michaelmas (App. III). Then in 1402 he gets his Easter £5
on April 26 (App. IV a), but out of his Michaelmas money fifteen-
pence is deducted (App. IV b).
In 1402, Hoccleve wrote his Letter of Cupid, printed in some of
the black-letter Works of Chaucer, and below, p. 72-91. He based
it mainly on Christine de Pisan's VEpistre au Dieu d! Amours? the
first poem in vol. ii of her Works just issued for 1891, by the Old
Erench Text Society, p. 1-27, in 826 lines, and complaind how in
Albion, above all lands, men shamd tears and sighs to deceive
women, and then forsook them. His date of the month of May for
the poem is borrowd from Christine de Pisan : needless to say that
he never alludes to her. (See Notes at the end of this volume.)
On Oct 15, 1403, Hoccleve gets his Annuity only by giving up
£1 of it to the King, and taking £9 for ten (App. V). Next half
he is probably hard-up, as he draws his half-yearly Easter £5 on
March 6, 1404 (App. VI). The Michaelmas-1404 and Easter-1405
Eolls contain no entry of payment to Hoccleve, and he may then
have written his appeal to the Lord Chancellor, p. 68 below, for
payment of his arrears ; but he gets his £5 for Michaelmas 1405 and
Easter 1406 (App. VII, VIII). On Aug. 14, 1406, he is paid
£3 Os, ^d, for parchment, ink and red-wax that he'd bought of divers
folk for work of the Privy-Seal Office (App. IX).
* Compare the case of Thomas Purde, one of the Privy-Seal Clerks in
Henry VIII's reign, "21 May, 1509. For Thomas Purde. To have a pension
which the late created abbot of the Monastery of Hyde is bound to give to a
clerk of the King's nomination." — Calendar of State Papers^ Domestic, i. 12,
no. 76. ^ Prof. Paul Meyer told me this.
xii § 1. Hoccleve kissing Girls, His ''Male Begle*' 0/ 1406.
In the last quarter of 1406, our poet wrote Lc^ Mole Regie de T.
Hoccleue, p. 25-39 below, in which he begs my namesake " my lord
the Foumeval ... fat now is tresorer" to pay him his Michaelmas
£5 ; he dares not ask for the arrears^ due to him, p. 38, st. 63. In
this poem Hoccleve also confesses his ill-regulated youth, and says
that for twenty years past he had eaten and drunk outrageously,^ —
ever since he 'd been in the Privy-Seal Office, if not before, — ^had
frequented wine-houses, gonej after pretty girls at the Paul's Head
Tavern,^ treated em to wine and wafers, and kist em, but hadn't
"done the deed" (p. 28-30), owing, no doubt, to his cowardice,
which he confesses made him keep quiet and out of rows. He was
well known to the tavemers and cooks at Westminster Gate, paid
them whatever they askt, and was cald "a verray gentil-man" (p.
31). After eating and drinking there, instead of going back to the
Privy-Seal Office, he 'd take a boat ; and the boatmen fought for him
because he always paid so well, and they cald him "Master" (or
Squire), the name of a gentleman by birth or office, which tickled
his vanity.
Hoccleve's appeal of 1406 to "my lord the Fourneval" seems to
have produced £5 (App. X). On 12 July, 1407, Hoccleve gets his
Easter £5 (App. XI), and on 15 July £3 6». Sd., part of £7 ds. 10J<?.
due to him for parchment, ink and red wax (App. XII). But at
Michaelmas, no pay is forthcoming, and so, on behalf of himself and
his fellow-clerks, Baillay, Hethe* and Offorde, Hoccleve writes to
Sub-Treasurer Somer the Balade and Roundel on pages 59-60 below,
praying him to get em their pay before Christmas. This pay seems
to be for salaries, not annuities. But on 16 Jan., 1408, Hoccleve
gets £4 3s, 2^d,f the balance of the £7 95. IQ^d, due to him for 16
^ As Hoccleve*8 side-note to his past year's dues is "Annus ille fuit restric-
tionis annuitatmn," he probably refers to the Act of 7 Henry IV (a.d. 1405), ch.
16, entitled, " Annuities graunted by the King or his Ancestors of an older date
shall be payed before them that were graunted of a later date." — Pulton, 268.
^ This stanza (826) is quoted from a scribbled poem on a blank leaf of Register
of the Dean and Chapter of Canterbury, in the 9th Report of the Hist. MSS.
Commission, p. 108, col. 1.
• On its site, with that of Paul's Brewhouse, stood afterwards the St. Paul's
Coflfee-house, at the comer of the entrance from St. Paul's Churchyard to
Doctors' Commons. — Cunningham. * See Hethe's name, p. x above.
^l.ffoeck'sftesh Pension^ ffis'^Iteffement of Princes'* 1^12. xiii
month's parchment, ink, and red wax (App. XIII) ; on 4 Feb., 1408,
he is paid his half-yearly annuity of £5, dtie at Michaelmas, 1407.
In 1408 Hoccleve also gets his Eastfer i65 on July 7 (App. XV),
while his Michaelmas £5 is paid on Feb. 13, 1409 (App. XVI). In
1409 he surrenders his Annuity of £lO, and on May 17 has a fresh
grant of an Annuity of £13 68. Sd, from Michaelmas, 1408 (App.
XVII). Six days after, on May 23, he gets his first half-yearly
Easter payment of his increast annuity, £6 Ids, Ad» (App. XVIII),
and the like sum for Michaelmas, on Nov. 22, 1409 (App. XIX).
A few days before May 1, 1410,^ if I read the lines aright, Hoc-
cleve writes a chirpy poem to Somer, — then Sir Henry Somer, Chan-
cellor of the Exchequer^ — from their Temple ^ Club, " the Court of
good Company," p. 64-6 below, reminding him that he was to give
em a good dinner on May-day, and had promist them £2 to buy
flour or wheat. On June 23, 1410, Hoccleve is paid 22«. 2d, for 14
month's ink, parchment and red wax (App. XX) ; on the following
July 17 he gets his Easter £6 13^. 4d, but no payment is made to
him for Michaelmas (App. XXI), tiU July 8, 1411, when he gets his
overdue £6 Us, \d, (App. XXII). On 26 Feb., 1412, his annuity
for the whole year 1411 is paid to him (App. XXIII). The Eoll
for Easter, 1412, is missing, and no payment to Hoccleve is on the
Michaelmas Eoll. So it was doubtless in 1412 that he wrote his
Regement of Princes, or De Regimine Principum, to Henry, Prince of
Wales, who became King Henry V on 21 March, 1413. On Nov. 5,
1412, Hoccleve is paid 32«. for parchment and ink (App. XXIV),
by the hands of John Welde, afterwards his derk.
La Male Regie of 1406 records Hoccleve's fast life. His larks, of
course, required a good income, and he seems at one time to have had
^ The date is settled in this way. The Clab dinner is to be on Thursday,
May 1. I ask Prof. Skeat if he can tell me in what year, after 1408, May 1 falls
on Thursday; and he answers, **Yes, certainly I The Prayer-book Calendar
marks May 1 as &. Let this be Thursday. Then c = Friday, d = Saturday,
and e = Sunday. So the Sunday-letter is E.
The tables of years for which E is the Sunday-letter include 1410^ IJ^l,
1427, 1432, 1438, 1449, and 14^5. You can take your pick : 1410 looks
probable. Yours ever, "W. W. Skeat."
• Probably the Middle Temple, to which Chester's Inn, where Hoccleve
livd, belohgd. See Note, p. xviii below.
xiv § 1. Hoccleve's Life. His Poverty: has only £4 a Year.
private means — see the extracts below ; — ^but even in 1406 his
** rentes annuel" '* too scarso been, greet costes to susteene/' 36/361-2
below; the return from his "manuel labour" can be hardly seen
or felt ; and by 141 1-12 , he tells us three times over in his Regein&fit^
that (besides his annuity) his income is but six marks, £4, a year
(34/935, 36/974, 44/1217). This £4 must have included both his
rents — ^if he had any left — ^and his salary from the Privy Seal, The
Chief of the Office ^ probably paid his clerks himself, out of his 20«.
> In the earlier entries in yoL i of the Proceedings and Ordinances of the
Privy Council f the name of " le gardein de notre prive seal " is not given. Those
named afterwards — ^but who may have been appointed earlier, — ^are, in
1402, April 2. Thomas Langley, Keeper of the Privy Seal. — ib. i. 188.
1407, Nov. 16. John Prophete* (i. 300-1, **Maist .... Prophete, gardein de
noire prive [seal] " ; iL 79, ** John Prophete, Secretaire du Keys, no^*e souverain
seigneure" ; Sec. to the King in Sept. 1402. — ib. 78).*
1417, Feb. 15. H. Ware (iL 204 : Feb. 15, 4 Hen. V, "H. Ware, custode pri-
vati sigilli.")
1421, July 1. John Stafford (iL 287 ; 1 Hen. VI, vL 844), and tiU 1422, Dec.
16 (iu. 8).
1422, Dec. 16. William Alnewyke (iii. 8), and on 16 July, 1424 (vi. 346), and
on 14 March, 1426 (vi. 348). Also frequently after he was Bp. of Norwich, as
10 March, 1427, " Episcopus Norwicensw, custos privati sigilli " (iii. 255), and
in 1429 (iii. 426), &c.
1434. William Lyndewode (iv. 202, "custos privati sigilli") and "utriusque
juris doctor," iv. 69. (When secondary in the Privy-Seal OflSce, he had £40
a year, with clothing, furs and lining : see in v. 150-1 the Petition to the
King, June 3, 19 Hen. VI, a.d. 1441, of **your poevere clerc, Adam Moleyns,
secondary in y* office of your prive seal, for such yerly reward and clothing
for y* said office . . as was paied and delivered to Maister William Lyndewode,
late secondary in y* said office .... in monnaye to be understande xl. ti. and
clothing, furrur and'lynyng as y* said? William Lyndewode receyved.")
1437. Thomas Beckington (v. 13, 313, **Th. Bekyngtoil . . Custos privati.
sigilli"; 335 (a.d. 1439, ** Thomas Bekynton, legum doctor. Regis secre-
tarius") ; 337 (a.d. 1439, "Bekynton, secretario") ; 350 (a.d. 1439, "Thome
Bekynton, legum doctoris "), &c.
1441. Adam Moleyns (v. 151, "Bex mandavit Oustodi privati sigilli sui ut
acceptaret Adam Moleyns, clericum, tunc consilii sui secundarium officii,
custodisB privati sigiUi, prout et diu Custos fuit antequam in custodia ejusdem
privati sigilU sui fuit assumptiM ; recipiendo . . . xl ti singulis annis,") &c.
1444. Thomas Beckington, Bishop of Bath (vi. 24 ; Feb. 1, 22 Hen. VI :
"Youre humble chapeUain, Thomas, bishop of Bath, keper of youre prive
seal" [Adam Moleyns was present at the Council on Jan. 26. — ibid.'\)
1446. Bishop of Winchester (so Index, vi 408 : vi 51, July 24, Hen. VI : '* my
Lord of Chichestre, keper of his prive seal ").
1450. Andrew Holes (vi. 93 : May 17, 28 Hen. VI : "To our right trusty and
welbeloved clerc, Maister Andrew Holes, keper of oure prive seel ").
For particulars respecting the Privy Seal Office, says Mr. Kirk, see the
1 He had 20«. a day.
« ** Master John Prophete was appointed Keeper of the Privy Seal on 4 October, 8 Henry
IV., 1406. See Issue Roll for Baster, 8 Hen. IV. Previously he was described as follows :—
(1400). Hich. 2 Hen. IV. He is called Dean of Hereford, and had been * retained' as one
of the King's councillors.
(1406). Mich. 7 Hen. IV. John Prophet or Proflyt, clerk, the King's Secretaxy."— R. G. Kirk.
§ 1. IIoccUve*8 Life, His Marriage. Waste in Youth, xv
a day, as little as he could : no payment of salary to Hoccleve, or
any of the fellow-clerks he names, is on the Issue Eolls. At any
rate, whatever money he had, he spent on drinking, stuflRng, and
girls , and then, as no benefice or corody was given him, he tired of
waiting for it, and drifted into marriage :
Harl. 4866, If. 26, bk.
I gasyd longe firste, & waytid faste 1451
After some benefice, and whan non cam,
By proces I me weddid* atte laste.
And, God it wot, it sore me agaste 1454
To bynde me / where I was at my large ;
But done it was : I toke on me fat charge.
ed. Wright, p. 53, st. 208, 1. 1456.
He married ioit love, not money {Reg, 66/1559-61), and after his
'* skittish youth " (as the old Beggar terms his own gay time, Reg,
22/590) settled down into poverty and sad old age : no more treating
and kissing the pretty plump girls at the Paul's Head.
Here is the account he gives of his prodigality in youth, p. 156-7 :
Harl. 486, If. 76, bk. st. 623, p. 156, ed. Wright.
A-mong folies alle, is non, I leue, 4355 Nofoiiyis
More fan a2 man his gode ful largely ^^t^^Z
Despende, in hope^ men wol hym releeve. iTh^^^Xt^*
Whan his gode is despendid vtterly * his donees mi
The indigent, men sette no thyng by. 4359 when he's
I, Hoccleue, in swich case* am gilty, — )>ts me fdldthis.
touchith, —
So seith pouert, which oon foole large him vouchith.
St. 624, ij. 157.
For fogh I neuer were of by degree, 4362
Ne had[de] mochil gode, ne gret richesse, Tho' i never
Jit hath fe vice of prodigalite JSf "wm*
Smerted me sore, & done me hevynesse. prodigal.
He fat but litil hath, may done excesse 4366
In his degree, as wel as may fe riche,
Thogh hir dispenses were nat ylyche.* 4368
Deputy Keeper's Reports, II. 88, 84, 70 ; the Guide to the Public Records, by
S. R. Bird ; the Report of the Record Commissioners, 1837, &c. The office of
Clerks of the Privy Seal was abolished by Act of 14 and 15 Victoria, c. 82.
(See Deputy Keeper's Reports, XIII. 4.)
^ I weddede me, Reg. * a Reg, om. H. * hop H, hope R^. ^ MS. viterly.
' swich a case H, suche case Reg. ' lyche H, ylyche Reg.
xvi §1. Eoccleve^s Life. His Wastefulness, and Povefiiy. 1412.
I opend my
pane
till it was
empty ;
and I shall
get nothing
unless you,
O Prince,
give it me.
I repent my
misguided
life.
St. 625.
So haue I plukkid at my purses ^ strynges, 4369
And made hem often for to^ gape and gane,
]>a.i his smal stuf hath take hym to his wynges,
And hath I-swome* to be my welthes bane,
But if releef a-way my sorwe* plane ; 4373
And whens it come shal, can I nought gesse.
Mi lorde, but it precede of your hynesse, 4375
St. 626.
I me repente of my mysrewly* lyfe : 4376
Wherfor, in fe wey of savaciofL
I hope I be ; my dotage excessyf e
Hath put me to swich castigaciofi,
]>dX indigence hath dominaciofl 4380
On me / 0, had I help, now wold I fryue ;
And so ne did I neuer^ ^it in my lyue. 4382
St. 627.
My yeerly guerdon, myn annuite, Pf. 77] 4383
That was me graunted for my long labour,
Is al behynde ; I may noght payed be ;
Whiche causeth me to lyue[n] in langour.
liberal prince, ensample of honour, 4387
Vn-to your grace lyke it to promoote
Mi poore estat/ and to my woo beth boote. 4389
St. 628.
And, worfy prince, at Cristes reuerence, 4390
Herkeneth what I schal seyn, and be® noght greued,
But lat me stande in your beneuolence ;
For if myn hertes wil wiste were and preeued,
How you to loue it stired is and meeved, 4394
Ye shulden knowe / Y your honour and welfe,
Triste* and desire, and eek your soules helfe, &c. 4396
Over his writing or copying work, Hoccleve groans to his old
Beggar, De Beg., p. 36-7 :
If I can get
help, I siiall
thnve for tlie
first time.
Hy annuity
is in arrear ;
I can't get
paid.
0, Prince,
relieve me !
I desire your
well-being,
and your
■oul s health
too.
Many think
copying isn't
hard worlc.
Harl. 4866, If. 18, bk. st. 142.
II Many men, fadir, wenen fat writynge
No trauaile is / pel hold it but a game : —
988
* purs H, purses Reg. ^ for H, for to Reg. • swome Reg. * my sorwe away
Reg. * myreuled Reg. • Head never as ne'er. ^ Hoccleve*s moral for the
Prince, on not being paid, is that when he becomes King, he shouldn't (hke his
Father, understood) grant Annuities unless he's sure he can pay em ; for retrac-
tion of payment kindles the hate of subjects. He'd better not grant any pensions
at all, thMi fail to pay em, p. 172, st. 685-7, 1. 4789-4809. There's a good bit of
advice in 1. 4898, p. 176, "No disdeyne have of the poores sentence (opinion)."
« beth Reg. » Thurste Reg.
§ 1. Hocdeves Life, His trying Work at the Privy-Seal, xvii
Aart hath no foo, but swich folk vnkonynge : —
But who-so list disport hyni in fat same,
Let hym continue, and he shal fynd it grame :
It is wel gretter labour fan it seemeth ;
J)e blynde man of colonies al^ wrong deemeth.
St. 143.
II A MTiter mot thre thynges to hym knytte,
And in tho may be no disseuerance ;
Mynde / ee^ / and hand / non may fro othir flitte,
But in hem mot be ioynt contynuance.
The mynd, al hoole with-outen variance,
On fe ee^ and hand / awayte mot alway.
And fei two eek on hym ; it is no nay.
St. 144, p. 37.
II Who-so schal wryte, may nat holde a tale
With hym and hym / ne synge* this ne that ;
But alle his wittes grete and smale
Ther must appere, and halden^ hem ther-at,
And syn he speke^ D^ay* ^^ synge nat,
But bo the '^ two he nedes moot forbere :
His^ labour to hym is the alengere.^
St. 145.
H Thise^^ artificers, se I day be day,
In fe hotteste of al her^^ bysynesse,
Talken and synge,^^ and make game and play
And forth hir labour^^ passith with gladnesse ;
But we laboure^^ in traueillous stilnesse ;
We stowpe and stare vpon fe sliepes skyn,
And keepe muste our song and^* wordes in.
St. 146.
11 Wrytyng also doth grete annoyes thre.
Of which ful fewe folkes^^ taken heede
Sauf we oure self ; and fise, lo, fei be :
Stomak is on, whom stowpyng out of dreede
Annoyeth soore, and to our bakkes neede
Mot it be greuous ; and fe thrid, our yen,^^
Vp-on the whyte niochel for to dry en.
St 147.
II What man fat fre and twenti^'^ yere and more
In wryting hath continued, as haue I,
992 Just let 'em
liave a gooU
turn at it!
994
995 A copier must
always
work mind,
eye, and Uaiid
together.
999
1001
1002 He can't talk
to other folk,
or sing,
but must give
all his wiu to
his work.
1006
1008
1009 Workmen
talk, sing,
and lark.
1013 We labour in
silence ;
stoop and
1 ni ^ stare on the
^^^*^ sheepskin.
1016 Our copying
hurts our
1 AOn B^^uiachs,
l\jJt\) our backs
and our eyes.
1022
1023
Any one
who's copied
for 20 years.
* Re^. omits *al.* * eye Reg. ' On eye Reg. * synge Reg., syng H.
* holde Reg. • setthe speke he ne. ' both H, bothe Reg. ® Hir Reg., His H.
• elengeer Reg. ^^ This H. " for H. " svnge Reg., syng H. ^* labure H,
labonren Reg. ^* and our Reg. ^ om. folkes Reg. ^* eyen Reg. *^ MS.
xriy* H, twenty Reg.
HOOOLBVB, M.P. h
xviii § 1. HoccVs Lift, His Dread of Poverty, At Chester's Inn.
8uffe«*^for*it ^ ^^^ ^^^ ^*y^ ^^ smerteth^ hym ful sore
Jjeve'Tjit In euery^ veyne and place of his body ; *
^' And yen^ most it greeueth trewely 1027
It's nearly ^^ ^^7 crafte fat man can ymagyne :
done for me. Fadlr, in felth/ it Spilt ^ hath wel ny_ myne.* 1029
forme. FadiF, m feith,* it spilt ^ hath wel ny.myne.*
In like wise, Hoccleve says to the old Beggar, De Reg., p.
St. 138 marl. 4866).
35:
St. 138 (Harl. 4866).
Had I ai- If fat I haddc of custume, or J?is tyme, 960
poverty^ " Lyued in indigences'^ wrecchednesse,
The lesse heer-after schuld? I sette^ by me ;
I nhouidn't But in myn age wrastle with^ hardnesse,
mJich now; That witli hym stroglid^® neuere in greennesse 964
but the Of youth, — J at mutacion and chaunge
strong^. An-othir day me seeme shulde al straunge. 966
St. 139.
He fat neue?*e knewe swetnesse of wele, 967
Thoj<h he it lakke ay / lesse hym greue it shal,
Than hym fat hath ben weleful yeeris^^ fele.
And in effect hath felt no greef at al.
frSfn^i^v^erTy! poucrt, God me slieldc fro thy fal ! 971
die timn*Uve ^ dcth, thy strok is more agreable
miserably. To me fau lyuc a lyf so miserable. ^2 973
In the De Regimine (a.d. 1411-12) Hoccleve tells us that he livd
at Chester's Inn in the Strand,^^ where he also was, I suppose, as a
^ smerteth Reg., smerth H. * euere H, euery Rep. * than H. * feth H,
feith Reg. * seta Reg. • me Reg. ' indigence and Reg. ^ sette Reg., sit H.
^ in Reg. ^^ neuere stroglid^ Reg. ^^ wele many yeres Reg. " So again on
p. 65, St. 259, 1. 1811-13 :
Wold honest dethe come, and me overterve,
And of my grave me pntte in seisyne,
Tu all my greef that were a medicyne.
^* On Chester's Inn, on part of the site of Somerset House, Strand, whore
Hoccleve and his wife livd in 1411-12, Sir George Buck, in his Appendix to the
1615 edition of Stow's AnnaleSf says, when writing of the Third University,
London, p. 477 : —
" Of Strand /nne, and of the Studies of these Innes of Chaunceryy cap. 25.
** There was also another Inne of Chauncery in the Strand, called Chester Inne,
or Strand Inne, which, togither with the houses of the Bishops of Chester, of
Worcester, and of Landaffe, and the Church of S. Mary in the Strand, were all
in the yeere of our Lorde MDXXXXIX swallowed vp in the foundation of the
goodly palace huilt hy the Duke of Somerset, Uncle Mateiiiell to K. Edward
the 6. and thus much for the foundation and institution of these Innes of
Chauncery. For the other matters belonging vnto them, I am able to say by
mine owne experience, that in these houses of Chauncery line and common
together, Attumies, Sollicitera, and Clarks belonging to the Courts, as well of
mere and strict law, as of equitie and conscience. The c^iefe or gouemour in
euery Inne of these Innes of Chauncery, is called Principall. And in these
§ 1. Hoccleves Life, A poor married Man, and a Preacher, xix
bachelor, handy for liis Club in the Teniple, for John Carpenter, —
both before and after he was Town-Clerk of London, — and for City
life in general, which he must have given np when he ranged
himself, and settled into a poor married man.
Then if we put Hoccleve^s marriage and start of post-Club life
in 1410-11, we have our rake as a teacher, philosopher and reformer,
in the De Regimine^ in 1411-12, and the Balades at p. 61 below, to
houses or coUedges the Tyrones and young Gentlemen, at their comming vp are
initiated to make first here an essay and a triall of the studie of the Law, which
if they like, and haue a desire to proceed, they remone shortly after to one of
the Innes of Court, whereunto that house of Chauncery belongeth : for he can
take no degrees in an Inne of Chauncery but such as I here last named, which
bee. rather seruices and procurations than aduancements and honors. Euery
Inne of Court hath two or three Innes of Chauncery belonging vnto it, viz. to
the middle Temple belong New Inne, and sometimes [formerly] ^rarid Inne,
To the inner Temple belong Cliffords Inne, Lyons Inne, and Clements Inne.
Thauies Inne and Fumiuals Inne are membei*s of Lincolns Inne. Staple Inne
and. Bamards Inne belong to Grayes Inne." . . .
Hoccleve speaks twice of his home as a "pore cote:" De Beg. 81/845, 34/940.
* The late Thomas Wright says in his Preface to his edition of De Regimine
for the Roxburghe Club, 1860, p. xiii.-xiv. : **Occleve tolls us that he compiled
his treatise De llegimine Principum from three works which were very celebrated
in his time. These were, in the first place, the supposititious epistle of Aristotle,
addressed to Alexander the Great, and known by the title of Secretum Secretorum;
secondly, the book of ^gidius de Columna or Colonna, entitled De Regimine
Principum, and of which Occleve speaks as * Gyles of Regement of Princes ' ; and
lastly the well-known work of Jacobus de Cessolis, or Jacques de Cessoles,
entitled the * Game of Chess Moralized,' of which Caxton's celebrated book, * The
Game of the Chess,* was a translation through the French." After the Proem,
and the long account of himself by the old Beggar who advises and tells his
story to Hoccleve, the poet, says Mr. Wright, **in his introductory part, com-
plains of the neglect which was shown in his time to the old soldiers of the
French wars of the preceding century (p. 32) ; of the great prevalence of covet-
ousness among the gentry (p. 43) ; of the eagerness of the churchmen after rich
benefices, and of the prevalence of pluralism and absenteeism (p. 51) ; of the
mischievous influence of the aristocracy in the courts of law (p. 64) ; of the evil
practice of betrothing children in their infancy (p. 59) ; and of the frequency of
adultery (p. 64). When he enters upon the subject of his book, he complains of
the want of truthfulness among the knights of his time (p. 82), and of the
absence of righteousness in England (p. 89) ; he urges the prince [after, Henry
V] to obey the laws when he should have become king, as one of the principal
duties of royalty, and complains that in England the laws were neglected, and
feuds and outrages passed unpunished. Poor men could get no justice, while
rich men committed crimes with impunity (p. 102). He especially urges the
prince as king to protect the free election of the bishops in the cathedral
churches (p. 104). In treating of Pity he condemns the practice of granting
pardons for ofifences, giving an illustrative anecdote of a king of * this land '
b 2
XX § 1. HoccVs Life. His Poerns q/* 1413, 1415, against Oldcastle.
the Prince of Wales, and p. 56-7 to the Duke of Bedford, Itegent of
France. On March 21, 1412-13, the day of Henry Vs accession,
when the English lords did homage to him at Kennington, Hoccleve
appears as a champion of orthodoxy and the Church, and writes the
King the Balade on p. 39-40, exhorting him to be just, to govern
with equity, and strengthen his Mother, Holy Church, by driving
out heresy. Early in 1413 also comes the Balade on p. 47-8, about
Henry Vs enmity to Heresy, and his having Richard II*s bones
buried next to his Queen's in Westminster Abbey, one of the first
things that the new King orderd to be done. On Sept. 28, 1413,
Hoccleve got an Inspeximus and Confirmation by Henry V of his
Annuity of £13 65. 8(?., — provided he should not be retaind by any
one else, — and a grant of his arrears from Michaelmas 1412 (App.
XXV). ^Moreover, three days after, on Dec. 1, 1413, this year's
arrears were paid to Hoccleve (App. XXVI). In 1414, he has a
clerk, John Welde, and by his hands gets £\ 6s, Sd. for 9 months*
parchment, ink and red wax on Jan. 17 (App. XXVII) ; and on May
2 his Easter £6 13^. id, (App. XXVIII), but his Michaelmas one
seems not to have been paid. For 1415 both his half-yearly instal-
ments were paid, the second on Feb. 29, 1416 (App. XXIX, XXX).
On Aug. 13, 1415, when Henry V. took ship for Harfleur, on his
Agincourt campaign, Hoccleve wrote, or began, his Remonstrance
with Oldcastle, p. 8-24, reproaching him for having left the Eaith,
for being God's foe 9/27, for having sold his soul to the Devil
10/61 ; bidding him return to God 16/248, praying God for him
16/265, damning to hell the heretics who 'd misled him, p. 17,
(p. 112), and advocates the punishment of death (p. 114). In the chapter on
Mercy (p. 119), Occleve commends the merciful dispositions of John of Gaunt
and his son Henry IV (p. 120). And in treating of 'largesse' and avarice, he
speaks again of his own youthful prodigality, and repeats his appeal for the
payment of his annuity (p. 156). He complains of the absence of liberality
among lords in his time (p. 168). In speaking of Prudence, he counsels the
prince, still with an eye to his own grievance, not to grant pensions unless he
intends to pay them (p. 172). And, in his last chapter, when treating of Teace,
he alludes to the troubles in England (p. 187) ; complains how unworthy people
were promoted in the world before those who were worthy, while the deserving
'clerkes* of Oxford and Cambridge were neglected (p. 187); describes the
melancholy state of France (p. 190); and deprecates the hostility between
France and England (p. 193).
§ 1. HoccVs Life. Poem against Oldcastle 1415. Payments, xxi
St. 35, hoping they*!! be burnt here, 18/320; arguing Popish doc-
trines with them and calling them asses, 19/352 ; denouncing their
rising in St. Giles's Fields in Jan. 1414, p. 20, st 49, defending
images, p. 21, rebuking communism, p. 22, st. 57-8, declaring that
the orthodox '11 go to Heaven, the heretics to Hell, p. 23, st. 60,
shaming Oldcastle for not fighting by Henry's side in France, p. 24,
st. 63, and appealing to him to flee the Devil and humble himself
to Henry V, p. 24, st. 64.
As the Ualade to Henry V, on p. 62 below, begins *^ Victorious
Kyng," I incline to put it late in 1415 or in 1416, after Henry's
return to England from Agincourt. In it Hoccleve refere to a
" bill *' or petition by himself and two fellow-clerks — not tliree,
as before 1408, p. 60, 1. 25-6 — for money for their "ful laborious"
and "long service," 62/15 — 16, and says that if the King doesn't
give em something, poverty will compel "us three to trotte vnto
Newgate." It is curious that Hoccleve's 1416-Ea8ter £6 13«. M, is
paid to him on July 8 by three instalments thro friends, — had he
borrowd from any of them] — £2 thro Jn. Burgh,^ 6/?. 2>d, thro
Eobert Wei ton, and £4 6^. 2>d, thro Jn. Welde, Hoccleve's clerk.
Moreover, he gets 13*. id, as a loan from the Treasury (App. XXXI).
On Feb. 14, 1417, Hoccleve was paid, thro his clerk John
Welde, £2 63. 8rf. for 4 months' ink and red wax, bought of Wm.
Lucy (App. XXXII).
His 1416-Michaelmas £6 13*. 4(?. is paid him on March 13, 1417
(App. XXXIII), and his 1417-Easter one on May 25, 1417 (App.
XXXIV). His Michaelmas payment he takes in two instalments of
£3 6*. M. each, on Nov. 30, 1417, and Feb. 10, 1418 (App. XXXV).
In 1418, 1419, 1420, and 1421, the half-yearly payments of his
Annuity are duly made within each year (App. XXXVI- VIII, XL-
XLIV), and on July 10, 1419, he gets 12*. 2.d, for 16 months' ink
and red wax (App. XXXIX).
Yet though ho was drawing his Annuity regularly during these
five years 1416-21, — and "by his own hands" on 13 March and 30
^ Was this a relative of the Benedict Burgh who finisht Lydgate's verse
englishing of the Seereta Secretorum, now in the press for the E. E. T. Soc.,
edited by Mr. R. Steele of Bedford ?
xxii § 1 . HaccVs 5 Years' Madness. His " Complaint " &c. of 1422.
Kov. 1417, 8 July 1419, 17 June and 26 Nov. 1420, and 6 July
and 11 Nov. 1421, — Hoccleve, poor old fellow, tells us in his pitiful
Complaint, p. 89-106 below, written in November 1421, as I sup-
pose, or early in 1422, how he went mad five years before, p. 96-7,
st. 6-8, but then recoverd, tho in Westminster Hall and London
(city) his old friends turnd their heads from him. And yet, tho
he lookt sane, " there never stode yet, wyse man on my fete," a
true saying. He seems to have gone back for a short time —
till, at least, near Michaelmas 1422; see below — to the Privy-Seal
Office, p. 106, st. 43, and made up his mind to take his trouble as
all for the best, p. 109, st. 57. Then he gives us his Dialog with a
Friend, in which he talks about his Complaint , and the evils of
counterfeit and light coin, from clipping and washing, about which
he says that an Act of Parliament has been past, that makes the
weighing of coin necessary. This is evidently the Act of 1421 a.d.,
9 Henry V, chapter xi, enacting that no coin shall be good payment
unless it is of the standard weight.^ Then Hoccleve says he means
to english the Latin Scite inori, "Lerne for to dye" (p. 117). He
is 53 ; his sight and mind are weakend (p. 119, st. 36), his insanity
didn^t come from book-study, but from his long illness (p. 121, st. 61);
he has long owd a book to the Lord-Lieutenant (during Henry V's
absence in France, 10 June, 1421, to H.'s death, 31 Aug. 1422),
Humfrey, Duke of Gloster, and took pen and ink to begin it as soon
as he heard of the Duke*s second return from France. (This was
1 9 Heury V, ch. xi, a.d. Ii2\,— Statutes, ed. Pulton, 1686, p. 290-1.
" No English Gold shall he received in payment htU by the Kings weight.
"Item, to auoid the deceits and perils which long haue continued within
the Bealme, by Washers, Clippers, and Counterfeitoi-s of the money of the
Realme of England, to the great losse and damage of all the people of the saipe
Realme : The King, by the aduioe and assent of all the Lords and Commons
assembled iu this Parliament, hath ordained and stablished, that from Christmas
euen next comming, none of the King's liege people shall receiue any money of
English gold in payment, but by the Kings weignt thereupon ordained. And
because a gi*eat part of the gold now current in payment, is not of rightfull
weight, nor of good alloy, the same shall be to the great losse and costs of the
Kings subiects, vnlesse it please him to relieue them in this case : Our Soueraigne
Lord the King, of his speriall grace, hath remised and pardoned to all his liege
people which, betwixt this and the said Feast of Christmas, shall cause to be
coyned of new at the Kings coinage within the Tower of London their money
of gold that is not of iust weight nor of good alloy, that is to say, all that to
him pertaineth for this new coinage of such gold as afore. Sauing alwaies to
the Master of the Mint, and to other officers of the same, that which to them
reasonably pertaineth."
§1. ffoccVs " Complaint*' &c. of U22. His Wife $ Kindness, xxiii
doubtless with Henry V and his French Queen on Feb. 3, 1421 :
Halle, p. 105, ed. 1809). On p. 130, Hoccleve mentions the Duke's
worthiness at Cherbourg (in 1418 1), his winning Constantine —
seemingly in 1417 2, — and his valour at the siege of Eouen, 1418
(city surrenderd Jan. 19, 1419). But as the Duke likes dalliance
with ladies (p. 135, st. 101), and Hoccleve's friend advises him to
make amends to them for the offence they took — quite wrongly, as
he well says on p. 137-8 — at his Letter of Cupid twenty years before,
the poet resolves to english' for them the tale of a true wife, —
of Jereslaus or Gerelaus — from the Gesta Romanorum, which he
accordingly does, p. 136, &c. On p. 136, st. 106, 1. 739-42, Hoo-
cleve's wife turns up again ; so he no doubt had some one to look
after him during his long illness and madness; and tho he says
nothing about his wife's care of him, we may hope fairly (if not
admit) that his stanza 57, p. 164, applies here :
" In al the world / so louynge tendrenesse 394
Is noon / as is the loue of a womman.
To hir chyld namely / & as I gesse,
To hire housbonde also / wliere-of witnesse 397
We weddid men may here / if fat vs lyke ;
And so byhoueth / a thanke vs to pyke." 399
If for " namely / &" in 1. 396, we read " / and namely (specially) "
with MS Reg. 17 D 6, the line runs better, and the testimony to the
wife's affection is more emphatic. But see p. xxxvii below.
Having finish t this first Gesta story, and added the Moralization
which wasn't in his book, but was lent him by his friend, p. 175,
Hoccleve englishes the first Part of the Latin Scite mori or " Leme
to dye," and leaves the other three Parts alone, p. 212, st. 132,
1 A.D. 1418. Halle's Chronicle (1809), p. 83 : *• To this siege came the
duke of Gloucester, with therle of Suffolke and the lorde of Burgainy, whiche
had taken the toune of Chierburgh, and wer lodged before the porte of Sainct
Hillarij, nerer their enemies by fortie roddes then any other persones of the
armie."
' After Henry V took Caen in 1417, and the Duke of Gloster, Lisieux, Halle
says (Chronicle, 1809, p. 80) that
'Miuersc tonnes in the country of Constantine wer surrendered to the duke
of Gloucester, where he appoyncted these capitaines.
*' At Canenton, the lorde Botraux. At Chiergurg [Cherbourg], the lord
At Seint Clow, Reignold West. Grey Codner, and after his decease,
At Yaloignes, Thomas Burgh. sir water Hungerford."
xxiv ^l.ffoccl/sGestsiStoryofJonathas. Wm. Broume prints it.
except the portion which tells what joy and bliss are prepared for
those who shall go hence to the heavenly city of Jerusalem, and the
torment that is in Hell. Then, at the asking of his friend, who
wants a tale to warn his son of fifteen against the wiles of women,
Hoccleve englishes a second Gesta story, p. 218 &c., of the prostitute
who beguild an Emperor's son (Jonathas) of his magic Eing, Brooch,
and Cloth, tho at last he got them back again : the story of Fortu-
natus, of which William Browne printed Hoccleve's text in hi«
Shephearda Fipe,^ 1614. The MS winds up with an Envoy of the
^ Browne praises Hoccleve highly, and promises to print the rest of his
works if this sample tale pleases. This come after the Tale. Before, Browne
says, p. 177, cd. 1869 :—
I will sing what I did leere Of a skilfull aged Sire,
Long agon in laniueere, As we tosted by the fire.
After the Tale, p. 196, Browne's JForks, ed. W. C. Hazlitt, il 196-8, ed. 1869 :—
By my hooke, this is a Tale
Would befit our Whitson-ale :
Better cannot be, I wist,
Descant on it he that li^t.
And full gladly giue I wold
The best Cosset in my fold
And a Mazor for a fee.
If this song thou'lt teachen me.
Tis so quaint and fine a lay.
That vpon our reuell day
If I sung it, I might chance
(For my paines) be tooke to dance
With our Lady of the May.
lioget.
Roget will not say thee nay.
If thou deem'st it worth thy paines.
Tis a song, not many Swaines
Singen can ; and though it be
Not so deckt with nycetee
Of sweet words full neatly chused
As are now by Sheph cards vsed.
Yet, if well you sound the sence.
And the Morals excellence,
You shall finde it quit the while,
And excuse the homely stile.
Well I wot, the man that first
Sung this Lay, did quench his thirst.
Deeply as did euer one
In the Muses Helicon.
Many times he hath been seen
With the Fairies on the greene,
And to them his Pipe did sound.
Whilst they danced in a round.
Mickle solace would they make him,
And at mid-night often wake htm.
And convey him from his roome
To a field of yellow broome ;
Or into the Medowes where
Mints perfume the gentle Aire,
And where Flora spends her treasure :
There they would begin their measure.
If it chanc'd nights sable shrowds
Muffled Cintfiia vp in clowds,
Safely home they then would see him.
And from brakes and quagmires fi'ee
him.
There are few such swaines as he
Now adayes for harmony.
Willie f
What was he thou pralsest thus ?
Eoget
Scholler vnto Tityrus :
TUyrus the brauest Swaine
Euer lined on the plaine.
Taught him how to feed his Lambes,
How to cure them, and their Dams ;
How to pitch the fold, and then
How he should remoue ajgen :
Taught him when the Come was ripe,
How to make an oaten Pipe,
How to ioyne them, how to cut them.
When to open, when to shut them ;
And with all the skill he had.
Did instruct this willing lad.
JVillie.
Happy surely was that Swaine !
And he was not taught in value :
Many a one that prouder is,
Han not such a song as this,
§ 1. Lady Westmorland^ Dedicatee of HoccVs ''Complaint'' xxv
Volume to **my lady of Westmorland" by her "humble servant
. . . T^ Hoccleve."
Now, assuming that the allusions and dates above given fix the
date of the Complaint MS to the winter of 1421 or the early part
of 1422, and assuming that Hoccleve, after his long illness and in
his perpetual want of money, sent the MS to Lady Westmorland
as soon as it was written, it is clear — say my good friends, Norroy
King at Arms (G. E. Cokayne) and Horace Round (whose letter
dated 1 March 1883 has just turnd up again) — that the Lady was
John of Gaunt's daughter Joan (by Katherine Swinford), who was
Countess of Westmoreland from 1397 to 1 425, and Dowager Countess
from 1425 to 1440.^ But if any reader thinks that Hoccleve did
with the Durham MS. what he did with the Phillipps, put several
poems of later date with others of early ones, he can take his choice
of two other Countesses of Westmoreland, Elizabeth and Margaret,
before Hoccleve's death in 1450 (1), according to Norroy's pedigree
printed below.^
And haue garlands for their meed, And his horses all in sweate,
That but iarre as Skeltons reed. In the Ocean coole their heate :
JRoget, Seuer we our sheepe, and fold them ;
Tis too true : But see the Sunne T'will be night ere we haue told them.
Hath his iourney fully run ;
Thomas Occlebve, one qf the priuy SealCf composed first this tale, and was
neuer till now imprinXed. As this shall please, I may be drawne to publish the
rest qf his workes, being all perfect in my hands. Hee torote in Chavcers time,
^ She was buried at Lincoln with her mother Katherine (Swiuford), for whom
she had founded a Chantry there in 1437-8. Her first husband died between
Sept. 1410 and Sept. 1411.
2 Ut wife, 2nd uH/e.
Lady MAivaret StaflTord = Ralph Nevill, cr. Earl or WBSTMORLAifD=*LadjrJoan Beaufort (widow
da. of Hugh. Earl of
Stafford. I^e died
before 13U7.
1397-ob. 31 Oct 1425
of Sir Robert Ferrers) da.
of John of Gaont, Dulce of
Lancaster: married before
Feb. 1307; ob. 18 Nov.
1440.
John, Lord Nevill, ob. vitft patris. 1423 ==
• L
Itiw^fe.
•Elisabeth Percy = Ralph. 2nd Earl of = « Margaret, da. of
" ■ " — gjj. Reginald Cob-
(wldow of John.
Lord CliflTord.
who died 1421).
ob. 28 Oct. 1437.
fFestmorland, grand-
son and heir; bom
1404. ob. 3 Nor. 1484.
ham: mar. after
1437. ob. 8. p.
John Nevill =
slain at
Towton,
1461.
John. Lord NevUl
ob. vitft patris, et
s. p.
Ralph. 3rd Earl of = Margaret, da. of Sir
Westmorland, nephew
and heir; bom 1456 ;
ob. 1409.
Roger Booth ; mar.
before 1478.
* Of these three Ladies. Joan was Countess c. 1397 to 1440; Eliaca>eth, 1425 to 1437: Margaret, c
1437 to 0).
xxvi § 1. Hoccleve leaves the Privy-Seal Office, and is provided for.
Before Hoccleve finisht bis Complaint he must have written his
Balade in the Ashburnham MS (see below, p. xxviii), " pour la bien
venue du tresnoble Roy H. le V* . . . hors du Roialme de France
(cestassauoir, sa dareine venue"), 3 Feb. 1421. On Feb. 29, 1422,
Hoccleve is paid ^Os, \\\d, for 19 months* red wax and ink (App.
XLV), and on May 25 he gets his half-year's annuity of £6 IZs, id.
to Easter 1422 (App. XLVI). On Aug. 31, 1422, Henry V dies,
and tlie baby Henry VI succeeds him.
On Jan. 24, 1423, there is an Inspexinius and Confirmation, on
behalf of Henry VI, of Hoccleve's Annuity-grant of £13 6«. 8c?.
(App. XL VII). On Feb. 15 he gets a half-year's payment (£6
13a id.) to Michaelmas 1422 (App. XLVIII), as late one of the
Clerks of the Privy Seal Office; and on May 20, 1423, he gets a
like payment to Easter 1423 (App. XLIX), being again described
as " late one of the Clerks of the Privy Seal Office." On May 20,
1423, he is also paid 23iJ. 1^. (or id,) for parchment, ink, and red
wax, bought by him of Walter Lucy, of London, for the Privy-Seal
Office (App. L).
At last in 1 424 comes a grant to our poor poet, now 66 or 55.
On July 4, 1424, " votre tres humble clerc, Thomas Hoccleve de
Toffice du prive seal," is granted, by the King and Privy Council, such
sustenance yearly during his life in the Priory of Southwick, Hants., ^
as Nicholas Mokkinge, late master of St. Lawrence in the Poultry ,2
had (Addit. MS. Brit. Mus. 4604, ai-t. 34 ; Privy Council Proceedings,
vol. iii. p. 152, App. XLIX below). Notwithstanding the grant of
this corody — which was, let us hope, worth £20 a year, (see p. xi
^ Southwick, a paiish in the hnndred of Portsdovn, co. Hants, 4 miles N.E.
of Fareham, its post town, and 3 N. of Porchester railway station. The village
is considerable, and near Bere Forest. The parish includes the manor of
Aplestede. It had formerly a priory of Black Canons, in which Henry VI was
married to Margaret of Anjou. At the Dissolution the revenues were returned
at £257, and the site given to the Whites. — Hamilton's Gazetteer,
2 See Dugdale, vi, Pt. I, p. 243, Nicholas Mockyng, 19th Jan., 1 Hen. IV,
A.D. 1400, Master of St. Lawrence, Poultry. The Priory of Southwick was
first founded by Hen. I in 1133 in the church of St. Mary Porchester, and not
long after removed to South wyke. Priors in Hoccleve's time : Thomas Curteis
or Cortays, 22 July, 22 Ric. II ; Edward Dene, 23 Sept., 11 Hen. VI ; John
Soburton, on whose death Philip Stanebrok received the temporaUties, Sept.
20th, 3 Edw. IV.
§ 1. HoccL perhaps dies in 14!50. Ashburn, MS of his Poems, xxvii
above, and Appendix I) — Hoccleve receivd the Michaelmas half-
year's payments of his Annuity, £6 135. Ad, each, both for 1424
and 1425 (Appendix LII, LIII); after which the South wick priory
doubtless kept him in moderate comfort. And after this, unless
our friend Mr. GoUancz shows that Lord Asbburnham*s autograph
Hoccleve MS has any other dated poems besides the Cupid of 1402,
and the Hen. V one of 1421, we find nothing of Hoccleve's that we
can assign a definite date to, except his **Balade to my gracious
Lord of Yorke," the father of Edward IV (p. 49 — 51 below), which,
as it asks that it may not be shown by Prince Edward to (his tutor)
" Master Picard," was probably written between 1448, when Edward
was six years old, and Hoccleve's death, that Mason supposes t^ok
place in 1450. The '*Balade to my maister Carpenter," on p. 63,
must be an early work. See p. xxxiv below.
The Hoccleve part of the Ashbumham MS 133 contains :
1. Inuocacio ad patrem :
beg. To thee / we make oure inuocacioun
Thow god / the fadir / which vn-to vs alle
20 stanzas of 7 lines each, ahahb cc, the last ending with
And stifly graunte vs in thy cause stonde
And flitte nat / whan we take it on honde.
2. Ad filium :
beg. blessid chyld Ihesu j what haast thow do
Jjat for vs shuldist souffre swich lewyse
10 stanzas of 7, the last ending
And graunt vs grace thee to loue & drede
And yeue vs heuene / whan fat we be dede.
3. Ad spmYwm sanctum :
beg. Now holy goost of the hy deitee
Loue and holy cowmunicacioun
10 stanzas of 7, the last ending
Our soules / hem to haue in gouernance
Trinitee haue vs in remembrawnce.
4. Ad bea^am Virginem :
beg. Worshipful maiden to the world / Marie
Modir moost louynge vn-to al man-kynde
xxviii § 1. The Aahbumham MS of Hoceleve^s Minor Poem$,
7 stanzas of 7, ababh cc, ending
For whom thow prey est / god nat list denye
Thyn axynge / blessid maiden Marie.
5. Item de heatA Virgiwe :
beg. Syn thow modir of grace / liaast euer in mynde
Aft tho / fat vp-on thee ban memorie
20 stanzas of 7, abahb cc, ending
His passion / witnesse here may
Remembre on fat / and preye for vs aye
6. Ite??i de bca^a Virgirte : Ce feust ratcte )
beg. who so desirith to geto and conquere t. Mwieburgir )
The blisse of heuene f needful is a guyde
Prologus, 3 stanzas of 7, almhh cCj
Fabula (story of a ^fonk who. by saying Ave Maria 50 times a
^^y> got the Virgin a sleeveless garment ; and then, by
trebling the 60 Aves and adding to every tenth a Pater-
Noster, got sleeves put to the garment, and afterwards became
an Abbot of his monastery and went to heaven), 15 like
stanzas.
7. Lepistre de Cupid, printed below from other worse MSS, p.
71-92 ; 68 stanzas of 7, abahb cc,
8. Ceste balade ensuante feust faite powr la hien venue du tres-
noble Roy. H. le .V* (que dieu pardoint !) hors du Roialme de France /
cestassauoir, sa dareine venue. [? 3 Feb., 1421, tho the Queen is
not mentiond in it, but Henry is cald " heir and Regent of France '*
in accordance with his treaty with the French King : see Holinshed,
Cliron. iii. 573-4.1]
beg. Victorious cristen Prince / our lord souereyn
Our lige lord ful dred and douted / we
5 stanzas of 7, ababb ce, ending
To be ful greet / for why / to vs echone
Welcome be your peereles pe?-sone.
^ *'The morow after Trinitio suudaie, being the third of June [1420], the
mariage was solemnised and fuUie consummate betwixt the King of England
and the said ladie Katharine. Herewith was the king of Kngland named and
proclaimed heire and regent of France.** Holinshed, iii. 573, lines 23-9, ed. 1687.
" 25 Also that our said father, during his life, shall name, call, and write vs
in French in this manner : Nostre tresehicr filz Henry ^ roy d Engleterre^ heretere
de France. And in Latine in this manner : Prccclarissirmis [for proecaTissimus]
filius noster ffenricua, rex Anglice db hoeres Frarvcim** Holinshed, iii. 574, coL
2, lines 69-73, ed. 1587.
S»t2tn2it0 10, U. 12 ot ^ouUbt'9 " l^otai t0 f «am to $ie *
(p. 180-1 bdlow)
from Loid Ashbomliam's Hocdere HS.
^r» (]f«(C^ 4t«^ '^<! pii^^ ^tjSvM^
•fl^«*ni«nt^ rp<>&t^fly,9( -nyp^l&nt ,
0ra ho4 /(^ tiW'ti^fi ^ittve. Ui -to WJeCjft
§ 1. Jffoccleve's Ashbumham MS and *' Letter-Book!* xxix
9. Cy ensuent trois chaunceouns / lune conpleynante a la Dame
monoie / & lautre, La response dele a cellui qui se conpleynt ; & la
tierce / la cowimendacion de ma dame.
I. Eoundel :
beg. Wei may I pleyne on yow lady moneye
]>a\> in the prison of your sharp scantnesse
3 stanzas of 4, aliba^ the burden being repeated thrice — after each
half of st. 2, and after st. 3 ; — ends
Elles I moot in right a feynt gladnesse
Synge of yow thus / & yow accuse & seye [Wei may I, &c.]
II. La response :
beg. Hoccleue / I wole / it to thee knowen be
I, lady Moneye / of the world goddesse
3 like stanzas, with the burden repeated as above ; ends
Hir comly body / shape as a foot bal
And shee syngith / ful lyke a papelay.
10. A Couplet :
Aftir our song / our mirthe & our gladnesse
Heer folwith a lessoun of heuynesse.
11. Hie incipit ars Vtilissima sciendi mori. Cum owines ho7?iines
&c»; the first 96 stanzas of the Poem printed below, p. 178-203,
with a few various readings, some being improvements.
The only other MS we have in Hoccleve*s hand (almost all of it)
is the large quarto Additional MS 24,062 in the British Museum,
containing copies of documents, warrants, letters, (kc, passing under
the Privy Seal.^ They are chiefly in French, a few in Latin ; and in
1 Catalogue of Additions to the MS of the British Museum in the years
1854—1875, vol. ii. (1877), p. 8 :—
** 24,062. A large collection of forms of documents passing under the Privy
Seal ; consisting of copies of letters and warrants, tempp. Rich. II. — Hen. V. ;
chiefly in Frencn : compiled by Thomas Hocclyf, or Occleve, the poet, Clerk of
the Privy Seal, and almost wholly in his handwriting ; in the following order : —
1. Table of Contents, French, ff. 2-4 b, 198—201 b.
2. Letters addressed to the Chancellor, under the following hea<ls : " Pur
la sommacion du parlement," ** Licence," ** Grauntz," " Pardons," ** Collacions,"
"Nominacions," ** Restitucions," " Presentacions," "Ratificacions," '*Sauf
conduytz," and *'de diverses natures," f. 5.
3. Warrants to the Treasurer and Barons of the Exchequer, f. 44.
4. ** Au Tresorer dengleterre par soy, et au Tresorer de lostel," f. 53.
5. '* As Tresorers des guerres," f. 54.
6. To the Justiciar and Chamberlain of Chester, f. 59 b.
8. To the Chamberlain and other oflBcers of North and South Wales, f. 69 b
9. ** Pur la guerre " ; to various persons, f. 73 b.
10. To the Keeper of the Great Wardrobe, f. 75.
XXX § 1. Hoccleves *' Letter-Book!* § 2. His Love of Chaucer.
turning over the leaves I saw only two notes in English. Article 17
of this MS contains 28 pages of copied letters, and is headed
OmnegadriurYiy a title that makes you smile when you see it. On
leaf 101 back, Hoccleve adds a bottom line : " 4 Hie finitur calendera
istius Libri secundum composictoTiem Thowze Hoclyf. fac^a per
manu77i sua??i ad finewi libri.*' In the margin of leaf 124, against a
French transcript in another hand, is ** secundum copia??! hocclief."
The two English notes are at the foot of leaf 102 front and 194
back. At the latter place Hoccleve had left seven lines blank at the
bottom of the page, and therefore writes in : —
" IF Heere made y lepe yeer — ex neglicencia &c. Witnesse on
Petebat &c, in the nexte syde folwynge, which sholde haue stonden
on this syde / but how so it stonde / it is a membre of the matcre
precedent."
The characteristic form of Hoccleve's W in his Poems is seen in
some careless writing at the foot of leaf 102 front, and leaf 194 back
of this Addit. MS 24,062. Compare the facsimile of the last page
of the Durham MS. in the present volume. There is a small capital
R inside the W.
§ 2. Hoccleve's Love of Chaucer, The chief merit of Hoccleve
is that he was the honourer and pupil of Chaucer. Dukes don't
matter; Chaucer does. On his Master, Hoccleve has three long
passages in his De Regimine, p. 71, p. 75-6, p. 179, ed. T. Wright,
11. *' A diuerses Coillours" ; collectors of customs and subsidies, f. 76 b.
12. ** As Maires et autres officers ioyntement," f. 79.
13. To Sheriffs, Bailiffs, Justices, "Gardeins diuerses," Escheators, Clerk of
Arraigns, Constables and Captains of castles, Seneschals, Receivers, Farmers
and Auditors, f. 83.
14. Letter of Charles V. of France to the town of Abbeville, Melun-sur
Seine, 19 Mar. 1368. Freuch, f. 102 b.
15. *' Lettres Patentes," for various pui'poses, f. 103.
16. *' Lettres adresses a diuerses estatz en Guyenne," f. 115.
17. " Omnegadrium " ; letters addressed to various persons for different
purposes, f. 120 b.
18. " Pur venir au consail, f. 136.
19. " Pur apprester monoie, chiualx et chariottes," f. 137.
20. ** Missiues." Under this heading are copies of letters from the King of
England to various foreign princes ; with a few letters addressed to tha King,
tf. 139 b— 163 b, 168, 169, 185 b— 197.
21. Papal bulls, f. 164—167 b, 170—178.
22. "Exordies et extraits des lettres** ; beginnings and clauses of letters,
ff. 178—185 b.
Yellum ; xvth cent." ...
§ 2. Hoccleve probahly with Chaucer when he died, xxxi
besides the two lines be puts into the mouth of the old beggar with
whom be talks (p. 67, st. 267, 1. 1867-8, ed. Wright) :—
pou. were aqueynted with Chaucer^ pardee :
God saue* bis soule, best of any wygbt I —
Harl. 4866, If. 34.
and I think we may fairly conclude from 1. 1965-6 that Hoccleve
was either with Chaucer when he died, or saw him on bis "bed
mortel " just before his death. Hoccleve was daily at work in West-
minster Palace, of which the present Westminster Hall was part, as
were the present Old and New Palace Yards. On Christmas Eve,
1399, Chaucer had a lease for life of a bouse in the garden of the
Chapel of St. Mary of Westminster (later, Henry VII's Chapel), part
of the Abbey grounds. Surely the pupil must have often visited his
Master before the latter's death; and surely his naming of **fi bed
mortel" means something more than death in the writer's absence.
St. 280 :— Harl. MS. 4866, If. 35 bk.
But weylaway I so is mjm hert[e] wo, 1958 Aia8,the
That f e honour of Englyssh tonge is deed, lunTs deadf
Of which I wont was ban conseil and reed. 1960
St. 281.
O maiste?' deere / and fadir reuej'ent, [if. 86] 1961 myMn«ter
Mi maistcr Chaucer, flour of eloquence,
Mirour of fnictuous entendement,
vniversel fadir in science, w'ly dw»'t
Alla-s, )>at ^ou thyn excellent prudence 1965 higskui, on
In f i bed mortel mightist noght byquethe I b^d?**"'
What eiled deth / alias ! why wold he sle thel 1967
St. 283.
O ileth, ))ou didest naght harmo singuleer 1975 But, Death,
In slaghtere of him, but al ])is land it smertith ;
But nathelees / yit hast f ou no power you cannot
His name sle ; his by ve?*tu astertith » ay > « a>ne.
Vnslayn fro \>e / whiche ay vs lyfly hertyth, 1979
With bookes of his ornat endytyng,
That is to al fis land enlumynyng.^ 1981
1 Caucher, Harl. 4866, If. 34 : Chaucera, MS Reg. 17 D 6. « haue H.
' He goes on : " Hast ]>on nat eeke my maister Gower slayn [1408], 1982
Whos yertu I am insufficient
For to descreyue, I wote wel in certayn." 1984
xxxii § 2. Hoccleoe's Love and Praise of Chaucer.
He would
have tauffht
me, but fwas
dull.
Death has
•tript the
land or his
sweet rhe-
toric.
He was the
highest in
Philosophy.
Death re-
gards the
virtuous no
more tlian
the vicious.
Never shall
England
breed another
Chaucer !
Pray for
him, Queen
of Heaven ;
2077
2079
2080
2084
2086
2087
2091
p. 75, si 297 :— Harl. MS 4866, If. 37.
My dere maistir — God his soule quyte ! —
And fadir Chaucer, fayn wolde ban me taght.
But I was dul, and lerned lite or naght.
St. 298.
Alias ! my worthi maiste?- honorable, [if. 87 bu.]
This landes verry tresor and richesse !
Dethe, by thi deth / hatli harme irreparable
Vnto vs doon ; hir vengeable duresse
Despoiled hath ])is land of ])e swetnesse
Of rethorik / for vnto Tullius
Was neuer man so lyk amonges vs.
St. 299.
Also who was hier in philosophie
To Aristotle / in our tonge but thow 1
The steppes of Virgile in poesie
Thow folwedist eeke, men wot wel ynow.
That combre-world fat J)e my maistir slow,
Would 1 slayne were ! Deth was to hastyf,
To renne on fe, and reue the thi lyf. 2093
St. 300, p. 76.
Deth hath but smal consideracioii) 2094
Vnto fe vertuous, I haue espied,
No more — as shewith the probacion), —
Than to a vicious maister losel tried ; 2097
Among an heep / euery man is maistried ; Moriturdoc-
With hire / as wel f e porre / as is f e riche, tus simui &
Lerede^ and lewde eeke / standen al yliche.
St. 301 (ed. Wright). Harl. 4866, If. 37 bk.
She myghte han taryed hir vengeance a while
Til that some man had egal to the be.
Nay, lat be fat ! sche knew wel fat fis yle
May never man forth brynge lyk to the,
And hir office nodes do mot she ;
God bad hir do so, I truste as for the beste ;
maister, maister, God fi soule reste !
p. 179, St. 712 :— Harl. MS 4866, If. 87 bk.
The firste fyndere of our faire langage
Hath seyde in caas semblable, & othir moo.
So hyly wel, fat it is my dotage
For to expresse or touche any of thoo.
Alasse ! my fadir fro f e worlde is goo.
My worthi maister Chaucer, hym I mene
Be f ou aduoket for hym, heuenes quene I
^ Lerd, Harl., Lerede, D Reg. 6.
2101
2105
2107
4978
[Keep the Sab-
bath, and
bow your
heart to Ood :
later in MSJ]
4982
4984
§ 2. Hoedevt's Praise and Pidtvre of Chaucer, xxxiii
Bt. 713.
A a bo a wel knowest, o bliasid vjrgyne, 4985
WiUi louyng hert and hye deuocion)
In byne honour he wroot ful many a lyne ; in ""W
U now pine helpe & pi pivmocion) boimur.
To God bi Song make a mocion) 4989
How he bi seniaunt was, maydeu marie, U'- ^i
And lat hia luuS Soure and fructifle. 4991
et 714.
Al-^ogU his lyfe be queynt, ^e r^soniblaunce 4992 Hi>iik«Mu
Of him ha]> in me so fressh lyflynesse, mT'tiuui'n
J)at, to putte othir men in rdmembraunce h^p^u*
Of hiB persone, I bane heere his lyknesse
Do mak@, to fiis eude, in sothfastnesse, 4996
J3at fti ]>at haue of him lest fought & mynde,
l!y ^ia peynture may ^eyn him fynde. 4998
One likos to tliink of Chaucer's wisliing to t«ach the young Privy-
Seal clerk, and giving him advice; aa also of the probability that
the pupil was with Chaucer sometimes during his illness and at
his death. (Gaacoigne'a making Chaucer "an awful example" is
mere paxaonic rot : the poet'a Bolraotation fancified.)
HOOCLETS, U.P. C
xxxiv § 3. Socclev^s Patrons^ Associates, and Character.
In the present volume, p. 135, lines 694-7, Hoccleve cites
Chaucer's Wife of Bath as his authority for saying that women
don't like men to put any vice on them, attribute any evil to them.
As she says,
Ne I wolde nat / of hym corrected be,
I hate hym / that my vices telleth me,
And so doo mo / god woot of vs / than I.
Wife of Bath's Prolog, D § 1, 1. 661-3 Ellesmere
MS, p. 185 ; Six-Text, p. 352.
He also adopts Chaucer's excuse when he is blamed for abusing
the women he meant to defend: ^'I wasn't the author of these
accusations, I was only the reporter of other folk's tales. What they
said, I wrote, but I never said it myself," 137/760-3. Why didn't
he confess that he had but adapted the poem from Christine de
Piean 1 The influence of Chaucer is felt all thro Hoccleve.
§ 3. Hocdeve's Patrons, Associates, and Cliaracter, Among Hoc-
cleve's patrons were Henry TV (p. 47), Henry V, both when Prince
of Walesi (p. 61) and King (p. 62), Humfrey, Duke of Gloster (p.
129), the Duke of Bedford, Regent of France (p. 56), the Duke of
York, father of Edward IV, who once askt the poet to send him
all the balades he had left (p. 49), the Duchess of York (50/22-4),
John of Gaunt {De. Beg. 19/512-25), the Lord Chancellor (p. 58),
the Countess of Westmorland, daughter of John of Gaunt (p. 23),
Lady Hereford (p. 8), Robert Chichele, probably a relative of Henry
Chichele, the Archbp. of Canterbury (bom c. 1362, died 1442), and
possibly Sir John Oldcastle before his heresy so-cald (p. 8). Among
his friends were Sir Henry Somer, Chancellor of the Exchequer,
John Carpenter the famous town-clerk and benefactor of London,*
* Beggar, — ** My lord the prince, knoweth he the nat !" . . .
Hoccleve, ** Yis, fader, he is my goo(¥ gracious lord." —
De Beg., p. 66, 1. 1882, 1886.
Also the Beggar says to the poet, %b, 69/1899 :
** My lord? the prynce is good lord the to."
^ The City folk long feasted on and plunderd his charity bequest, but in
1883 founded the City of London School out of it.
The tone of the Balade on p. 68 is that of one friend to another who 'd be
likely to intercede with the writer's creditors, at. 4, and not to Jn. Carpenter,
Bp. of Worcester, even when he was Master of St. Anthony's School and Hos-
pital, or Provost of Oriel (1480). Wouldn't a priest too have been cald "Sir
John" instead of ** Maister " !
§ 3. ffoecleve*s Associates and GhariicteT. Bred a Priest, xxxv
Mr. Massey, connected with the Dnke of Bedford (p. 57), and Mr.
Picard, tutor to Henry V when Prince of Wales (p. 50). He belongd
to a dining-club in the Temple, and the five Privy-Seal clerks he
names are Prentys and Arundel (35/321), and Baillay, Hethe and
Oflfbrde (60/25-6). As yet we have entries naming only three of
these clerks ; Hethe (p. x above), Prentys and Arundel in the note
below.^ Whether the T. Maiieburgh, at whose request Hoccleve
wrote his third Virgin-poem in the Ashbumham MS (p. xxviii
above), was a patron or friend, is not known.
There is so little of the country in Hoccleve's works,^ that he
was no doubt a cockney. I see no evidence that he had ever crost
a horse ; ^ and he was too much of a coward (p. 30, st. 22 below) to
play football or any other rough game. Meant to be a priest, he
was no doubt brought up at some Monastery School, perhaps livd
altogether with the monks as an acolyte. He was probably driven
and lunged with a sharp curb, and kept on the dumb-jockey all day.
When he got free, and was his own master, he naturally kickt
up his heels, and at 18 he seems to have turnd into a smart Govern-
ment-Clerk while waiting for a benefice that he never got. He no
^ Prentis and Arundel are mentiond in 1431 — as entitled to cloth and lamb-
fur — in the Privy-Council Proceedings and Ordinances, 1429-36, ed. Nicolas
1835, vol. iv, p. 77,
[Additional MS in British Museum, 4606, art. 48, a modem Transcript.
"Petition to the Council, with the Answer, 14th February, 9 Hen. VI, 1431]
** Please au tressage connseil nostre tressoverain seigneur le Roy, eranter une
lettre de garrant desoubz le prive seal, directe as Tresorer et Barons de Peschequer,
pur fair pleine et dehu aflouance a William Philippe, chivaler, tresourer de
i oiistel nostre dit seigneur, en son accompt qi est arendre devant eux a cause de
son dit office, des sommes ensuyantz pur certains draps et furres agnelx, achetez
pur diverses clers, escuiers et hcnxmen a la suyt du dit houstiel, encontre le feste
de Noel, Tan ix*".* assavoir, a John Burey, Robei-t Felton, John Langton, John
Tiphan, John de Pount, John Prentys, John Arundell, John Seward, Nich[olas]
Sturgeon et Thomas Walbon, clercs, a chascun en price de v. virges de violet
engrenez, xl*. — xxV John Perient, Thomas Walsyngham, Thomas Bolthorp, Wil-
liam Caldwell, et John Waddes worth, escuiers, a chascun d'eux, en price de
draps de colour et de raye, xiij*. — ixV xviij*. ix^ a William Bourgchier, Kichard
Veer, Thomas Beauchamp, Edward Hull, John Norbury, Zodanni Courcy,
Roberto Seint-Johan, et Hugh Malet, henxmen de la Royne, a chascun d'eux,
en price de draps de colour et de raye, et un furre de noir agnelx, ovesque le
faisour de sa robe, xV. vj4 — vjl* iiij*.
"(/n dorso.) xiiij* die Februarij, anno &c nono, concordatum est per con-
silium, quod sub privato sigillo, fiat garantum prout infra petitur. "
* The proverbial cherry-fair, De Beg, p. 47, 1. 1289, was probably held in
town. ' Did he see the hunt in 146/184-7 below !
xxxvi § 3. Hocdeve a smart Government-Clerk; then very poor,
doubt jetted along the Strand in fine weather in the fashionable wide-
sleevd cloak of the time,^ down to the Privy-Seal Office in the Palace
at Westminster, where he would see the Prince of Wales and the
nobles he mentions in his works, and have a chance of talking to
them. As the Strand wasn't paved till 1533, in winter the way was
deep (31/193), and Hoccleve took a boat from Chester's Inn (Somerset
House) to Westminster, and there workt more or less. When young,
he was free with his money, stuft and drank at the cook-shops and
taverns at Westminster — paying whatever was askt (p. 30-1) — and
instead of going back to the office ^ after dinner, went for an outing
on the river (31/190). The watermen, seeing he was weak, cald him
"Maister" (31/201), which tickled his vanity — ^it was a term applied
only to gentlemen^ — and drew money from him. Then he 'd adjourn
to Paul's Head Tavern, close to the Cathedral, where he 'd treat and
kiss the girls, or to his Dinner Club in the Temple, and either at
one of these places, or in his rooms at Chester's Inn, sit up drinking
all night (p. 34-5, st. 39), and be loth to rise in the morning (p. 35,
St. 40). And so the fun went on, as long as Hoccleve had, or
could borrow, money (36/369). Then came illness and debt.
His rents but £4 a year (De Beg.), his earnings nothing (36/364-5),
his pension in arrear, and his salary too. A bad look-out. To
improve it, he drifted into marriage, and his only prospect was to
trot to Newgate (62/8), beg, steal, or starve {De Beg, 65/1802).
He was ashamed to beg ; he wouldn't steal ; so he wisht to die
{ibid, 65/1808). When the old Beggar in De Regimine reproach t
him for not being content with £4 a year, which ud find him in
food, drink, and clothes {De Reg. 44/1217), he had to own to a wife
— "Towe on my dystaf have I for to spynne" {ibid, 45/1226;
^ The old Beggar says to Hoccleve :
" I . . not so wide a gowne have as is thyne,
So smalle y-pynched, and so fresshe and gay." —
DeBeg., p. 15, 1. 409-10.
2 "Hoom to the priuee seel," he says 31/188, but I suppose that "hoom"
means back, and does not imply that Hoccleve had rooms in the Palace.
« See Harrison's England^ p. 129, of my edition for the New Shakspere
Society. I recollect a little Oxford man in Lincoln's Inn Fields, who was always
comforted by the cabmen calling him ** Captain " when he was on the look-out
for a cab : '4t shows they think Vm a gentleman."
§ 3. Hocclev6*8 poor Home, and his W\fe. xxxvii
53/1458), and that the fear of poverty made him sad {De Beg, 42/
1244). He alludes twice in his De Beg, to his poor cottage, 34/940,
" Whan that I at home dwelle in my poore cote " ; and 31/842-7 :
*' Servise, I wote wele, is none heritage ; 841
Whan I am out of court another day,
(As I mote whan upone me hastethe age.
And that I no lenger lahoure may,)
Unto my poore cote — it is no nay — 845
I mote me drawe, and my fortune abide,
And suffre the storme after the mery tide. 847
As to the relations between Hoccleve and his wife, they were, 1
suspect — tho she was kind to him during his illness, p. 154, st. 57,
and xxiii above — like those between Chaucer and his wife, only
much more so. They are shown in the 104th stanza of the Dialog ,
p. 136 below, where the poor poet says that, since a woman had such
power that she broke the Devil's (or Serpent's) head, it's a trifle to
her to break a man's head. Therefore let no husband think it shame
tho his wife breaks his head. Her "reason" (instinct) demands
power over men; and tho Holy Writ says men should have rule
over their wives, it is the reverse in fact ; a man had better hang up
his hatchet and sit down. Our fathers had to do the like (1. 748-9).
Hoccleve was surely meant by nature to bo under his wife's thumb,
but couldn't take it out of her in chaff, as Chaucer did out of his.
Mrs. Chaucer, however, wouldn't dare take such liberties with her
husband as Mrs. Hoccleve would with hers. He evidently knew too
what a wash at home was, 139/826.
Still, our master Chaucer tells us by the mouth of the Wife of
Bath, that a woman's rule of her husband is compatible with kindness
to him :
And whan that I / hadde geten vnto me.
By maistrie / al the soueraynetee,
Aid that he seyde / " myn owene trewe wyf ,
Do as thee lust / to terme of al thy lyf ;
Keepe thyn honour / and keepe eek myn estaat " ;
After that day / we hadden neuer debaat :
God help me so / I was to hym as kynde
As any wyf / from Denmark vnto Ynde,
And also trewe / and so was he to me.
Wife 8 Preamble, D, § 1, 817-825. Ellesmere MS, p. 190; Six-
Text, p. 357. See, too, L 1230-8 on the like state of things.
xxxviii § 3. Hoccleve imak and senMive, yet has Humour.
The same weak, sensitive, look-on-the-worst side kind of man*
is shown in his Complaint and his Dialog with his friend in the
Durham MS, below, p. 94-139. And when quite old, Hoccleve
is still too vain — proud, he calls it, 51/56-8 — to wear spectacles,
tho he is losing bis sight, and injures it by not using glasses {ibid.
p. 59-63).
But he has the merit of recognizing his weakness, his folly, and
his cowardice. He makes up for these by his sentimental love of the
Virgin Mary, his genuine admiration for Chaucer, his denunciation
of the extravagant fashions in dress, the neglect of old soldiers, &c.2
We wish he had been a better poet and a manlier fellow ; but all of
those who 've made fools of themselves, more or less, in their youth,
will feel for the poor old versifier. If he was willing to make
amends for his own faults by burning Oldcastle and heretics, and
uttering moral precepts, we Eadicals and Teetotallers are willing to
provide a painless lethal chamber for Lordly and other Tories, and
drink-suppliers — after the manner of lost dogs, — and to provide a like
^ Still, Hoccleve has an occasional touch of humour, as when he says in De
Begiminey — p. 64, st. 213, Harl. 4866, If. 27 bk., — that Nemo is the patron who
helps his fellows ; no one else does : —
** But how ben >i felawes lokyd to 1485
At home % ben not thei wele^ benefise($ 1 "
**3is, fader, jis ; >er is on clept Nemo,
He helpe)) hem ; by hym ben* )>ei chericed.
Nere he, ))ey weren porely chevyce<J ; 1489
He hem auanceth ; he fully' hir frende is ;
Sauf only hym, J)ey han but fewe frendes." 1491
His Roundel to Lady Money in the Ashburnham MS is also humorous ; and
80 is his quiz of his '* lady" in the same MS, which Mr. Gollancz kindly lets me
print:
" Of my lady, wel me reioise I may :
Hir golden forheed is ful narw & smal,
Hir browes been lyk to dym reed coral ;
And as the leet / hir yen glistren ay. 4
Hir bowgy cheekes been as softe as clay ) q^ j^^ .
With large lowes and substancial j J J> •
Hir nose / a pentice is, )>at it ne shal \ q^ .
Reyne in hir mowth / thogh shee vp-rightes lay. 8 ]
Hir mowth is nothyng scant / witA lippes gray ; \
Hir chin vnnethe / may be seen at at ; f q^ ^^
Hir comly body / shape as a foot-bal ; I
And shee syngith / ful lyk« a PapoLiy. 12 )
" Item : She hath a sweet mouth," as is said of Launce*s milkmaid in The
Two cierUlemenf III. i. 320 (Cambr. ed. 1). ' Above, p. xxix n.
i HarL hoom ben J>ey not weL 3 Harl. omits '* ben." 3 fuUy Beg., ftd Harl.
§ 4. Some of Hoccleve^s Poems. His " Mother of God** xxxix
serene end for sweaters and anti-Home-Bulers. The mere idea of
the thing makes one feel virtuous. There's a good deal of human
nature in man. So we'll not throw stones at old Hoccleve.
§ 4. Comm^ents on sows of Hoedeve^s poems. Setting aside the
biographical poems, the most interesting question about the others
is, did he write The Mother of God (p. 52-6 below), which, on the
strength of two untrustworthy Scotch MSS, some of us at one time
attributed to Chaucer f When I did so, I hadn't seen the Phillipps
MS, in which this poem appears in Hoccleve's own hand among the
other pieces — undoubtedly his — ^in the MS. Xor did I then feel
the importance of the fake ryme in the poem 64/64-6, the verb
honours being spelt honurs, and made to ryme with cure, — a ryme
which at once causd the German critics to declare that the poem
was not Chaucer's. But as soon as I took up the Phillipps MS in
Hoccleve's own hand, and then found the two other instances of
this -our -ure ryme in its Oldcastle poem — to honure, wole endure,
15/222-4, and peynture, honure (vb. infin.), figure, creature 21/410-
15, and afterwards, two instances in De Regimine — honoure (vb.
imper.), scripture, creature 21/569-72; di8honour[e] (3 pi. pres.),
cure, endure 85/2368-71, and one in the Durham MS, j>Mre adj.
honure vb. inf. 179/27-8,^ — I gladly gave up the poem as Chaucer's,
and accepted it as Hoccleve's.^ It wa? a relief in this way, that the
Mother of God had no mark or seal of Chaucer on it,^ and didn't fit
properly into the time-order of his works; it had to be stuft in
somewhere, so long as it was supposed genuine. On the other hand
it seemd too good for Hoccleve, judgd by Wright's print of De
Regimine, which he took from a second-rate complete MS (Reg. 17
D 6), instead of the better, tho still faulty Harleian 4866, which has
* There is at least one more — scripture, to Tumttre — in the Ashbumham Hoc-
cleye MS, in the first stanza of the "Fabula " of the "De beata Yirgine," made
at the instance of T. Marleborgh. The MS has not its leaves numberd.
' Inside lines he sometimes spells the noun honur 24/504, 126/577, 135/821
&c., and the adjective honurdble 17/275, 128/632, &c. Hoccleve of course found
honur, hxmurer in Old French, and no doubt often wrote them so himself in the
French documents he copied. He has this line in the Ashbumham MS :
*' Honur hire / if thow wilt honured be."
• The Virgin's tecUs too, in 54/72, didn't look like Chaucer's good taste. Her
paps appear again in Hoccleve, in 47/112.
xl § 4. Hoccleoe copies CliaMC&r. His Forms and Metre.
lost its first leaf ^ and its last. But Hoccleve's poems to tlie Virgin
— poor tho they be — are, I think, better than his other productions,
and in the Mothei* of God he undoubtedly did his best.
As the student reads Hoccleve, he will hear many echoes of
Chaucer, and uses of his words and phrases.^ But there is a phrase
in De Regimine that I don't recollect having seen earlier, the original
of our " I told you so ! " When the Old Beggar has spent all his
coin, the fcJk who used to flatter and give-in to him, turn on him : —
St. 103, p. 26 ; Harl. 4866, If. 13 bk.
Now seyn fey J)us, " I wiste wel alway 715
J?at him destroye wolde his fool largesse ;
/ tolde hym so ; and eue?* he seyde, nay."
And 3ifc they lyen al, [a]s God me blesse . . . [MSaU] 718
I also suppose Hoccleve to be the fiist user of '* know what's
what" (138/778, below).3
Perhaps the oddest word that Hoccleve uses is delauee, Fr. delav6y
172/901. He repeats it in the Ashburnham MS, "Becam I of my
body delauee," in the Answer of Lady Money to Hoccleve. The
Virgin is the ^^feynter of wo & stryf," 62/12 ; " without authority"
is ^^vnhad aucthoritie," 115/135; "a coin-clypper " may appear first
in 112/66, and * kerfe ' sh, in 185/203. A look thro the Glossary will
show a few other unusual words ; ordinarily Hoccleve is commonplace.
Of the Double vowel for lengthy Hoccleve is fond, but is not
constant to it. On p. 50, 1. 25 he has haast^ in 1. 37 hast. He has
aart.paart 13/150-2; paart 3/104, aai-t 14/196, hut jtai-t, aH 3/111-
12, aH n. 126/565; art vb. 45/75, 46/88, 61/11 ; darst U/iO, dar
45/48; haast (hast) 7/225, 8/7, 9/31, 11/107, 14/200, 50/25, 125/
539, 130/670, 131/699, 237/20, &c. ; but hast 4/123, 47/115,
^ I expect that the fii*st leaf had an illuTniiiation of Hoccleve presenting his
MS to the Prince of Wales, and that "Somme Furyows Foole Have Cutt the
same " leaf off, as a later hand says of the cut-away portrait of Chaucer on leaf
139 of Harl. MS 4826.
2 See 6/204, 26/22, 30/159, 37/380, 40/37, 43/18, 67/20, &c., &c
3 Isn't Chaucer the first user of " Why " for " Well then " ?
** What eyleth yow / to grucche thus and grone ?
Is it for ye wolde haue my queynte allone %
Wy! taak it al / lo, haue it euery deel I
Peter, I shrewe yow / but ye loue it weel. "
Wife ofBatKs Preamble, D, § 1, 1. 443-5. Ellesmere
MS, p. 179 Six-Text, p. 846.
§ 4. Hoccleve^s Double Vowels and his Metre, xli
50/37, 71/122; haaste vb. i., 129/646; haath 126/557, &c. (but
hath 8/244, 11/97, 103, 24/508, 65/15-17, 126/570); maad 72/151,
130/683, 685, 693; 139/107, &c. (but made 56/140, 133/770,
138/59); taadld (tasted) 123/485; taaste n. (taste) 7/214, vb. 29/
123, icaar 11/88, 36/351, 129/652, &c. ; but Beioar 14/193, 130/
680 ; vmoar 26/41 ; waast (waste) n. 36/371.
ee: Eeues (Eve's) 132/722; c/ice^-^ec 48/32, 58/20, 62/7; eei-ly
31/180, 62/21; forgeete 68/29; r(?e^y (ready) 66/41; seelden 30/
165; attempi-ee 40/13; &cc^^ (be ye) 55/127, 58/18; eerthehj 11 j
292-7; eeHheb5/90; bleew Ui/2i0 ; /meeir 45/50, 140/128; kneewen
31/196; reetrc 12/131, 38/412, 121/414-15, 141/152; /7/rcew 140/
132; treewe 33/273, 34/277, 125/540, 127/598, 134/798, 137/48,
139/92, (but trewe 13/163); treewely 121/433, 141/158. Other u s
are : Eetde vb. 66/66, n. 39/8 ; seur (sure) 35/320, 48/14, 61/7 ; Dtie
adj. 39/440, 61/13; pared. 44/36.
00 : dooih imper. 42/32, 43/55 ; fo(yrth 2/60, 27/78, 41/15 ; hoolhj
3/112, &c.
ou: doumb 38/433; souffyse 46/100, souffissance 51/70; souffre
34/288, 40/23, 30; souped 68/51, (but supe 30/151); souffndist
54/58, but soffraunce 109/384. For Jiigh, he has /^y/y adv. 68/49,
on hy 1/46, hy adj. 39/3, 48/42.
Hoccleve's metre is poor. So long as he can count ten syllables
by his fingers, he is content. He rightly apologises in 50/48 for his
'*Meetrynge amis," and in 57/12-13 for "how vnconnyngly My
book is metrid." He constantly thwarts the natural run of his line
by putting stress on a word that shouldn't bear it, or using a strong
syllable as a weak one — as Browning also often does :
Du^ly in his conceites balaunce 131/601,
Ful many i man / for to taken heede 131/605,
Now, good freend / shoue at th6 cart, I yow praye 132/617,
Right so / iet it be by wryt/nge amendid 135/700.
He turns the pronoun hire her, into two syllables :
40/24, In preiudice of hire (not " to hire ") by no way,
141/53, he hire yaf wordes confortatyf^
143/97, he stired hire / whan he fond hir soul [alone].
Hoccleve often breaks a measure awkwardly with his pause, as in
xlii § 4. Hocdeve's Meti'ical Pause, and e hefoi^e a Vowel.
" Wiste I what / good freend / teH on what is best" 129/552.
" Or thow auysed be wel / and wel knowe " 1 33/648.
" Enle him shal / no thingo shal out from him breke" 133/654.
" Thou woost wel / on wommen greet wyt & lak^ " 134/667.
He not only lets the metrical pause stop the cutting-o£E of a final
e before a vowel or an A, but he keeps the e also in other parts of
the line :
Wolde god, by my speeche and my sawe 67/21,
To helthe hirw profyte / ne god qweeme 9/40,
]>at he were of / nat sholde hardy be 14/189,
From ^hyn Hynesse haue a tokne or tweye 38/419,
Of giltes aU^ haue an excellence 45/61,
For our behoue ban so mochil wroght 46/98,
And werre make, & sharp resistance 26/51,
And thus to crane / artith me my neede 39/438,
Shameth to werne / as fat I byleeue 39/442,
With his mowth made / and off his noblesse 56/130,
ground and roote of prosperitee 25/2,
The hope of myn exaudicioun 44/30,
It for to serue in his cleer brightnesse 18/308,
So moche is a popes auctorit^e 18/315 H So / moche is /),
How fat his gouemanct* is despysid 33/275,
The gretter neede hath it of his cure 45/67,
So largeliche opned is thy syde 3/88,
If he take heede vnto the scripture 32/235,
Or take my way / for fer^ into France 139/823.
Of the eighteen poems in the Phillipps MS, George Mason printed
the six autobiographic ones in 1796 : " Poems by Thomas Hoccleve,
never before printed : selected from a MS in the possession of George
Mason," &c. They are, (1) p. 15, the ** Balade to the Lord Chancellor "
(p. 58 below) ; (2) p. 27, " La Male Regie '' (p. 25 below) ; (3) p. 59,
the "Balade and Roundel to Somer" (p. 59-60 below); (4) p. 65,
the "Balade to Sir Hy. Somer" (p. 64 below) ; (5) p. 71, the Balade
« Au Roy " (Henry V, p. 62 below) ; (6) p. 73, the " Balade to my
maister Carpenter" (p. 63 below), whom Mason made the Bp. of
Worcester, or the Rev. John Carpenter who was afterwards Bp. of
Worcester, but whom I make the more probable John Carpenter, the
well-known town-clerk and benefactor of London, whose charitable
bequest, after having been mainly guzzled or misapplied by the City
§ 4. PrimJU of some of Hoccleve's Works, xliii
Coiporation for centuries, was in part used to found the City of
London School in 1833.
In 1602 Speght printed, in his second edition of Chaucer's
Works, p. 424, Hoccleve's Balade to Henry V and the Knights of
the Garter, p. 41 helow, under the title of ** To the Kings most noble
Grace, and to the Lords and Knights of the Gartar/' It was
reprinted in 1687, and by XJrry, &c.
In 1614, as noted above, p. xxiv, the poet William Browne
reprinted Hoccleve's second Gesta story of Fortunatus (p. 214, &c.,
below) in the first Eglogue of his SJiepheards Pipe, and W. C.
Hazlitt reprinted it in his edition of Browne's Works (Roxburgh
Library), ii. 178-196.
Next, about 1625, the Rev. Richard James, B.D., Fellow of
Corpus Chr. Coll., Oxford, copied and annotated Hoccleve's Remon-
strance with Oldcastle, p. 8 below, and evidently meant to publish
it; see **The Legend and Defence of y* Noble Knight and Martyr
Sir John Oldcastel'' in the James MS 34, in the Bodleian, or the
Granville MS 35 in the British Museum. This copy by James —
which had mistakes — Dr. Grosart printed, with James's notes and
Dedication to Lord Bourchier,^ in his " Poems &c of Richard James
B.D." 1880. Then in 1882 Miss L. T. Smith edited Hoccleve's
poem from the Phillipps MS, in Anglia, vol. 5, with only three
mistakes in the text that need be notist — ^novice for norice, and love
for lore, st. 27, lines 4 and 6 ; might for naghi in st. 36, line 7 —
and one in the Latin sidenote to st. 24 : she left-out " vel militarw"
after "Clericus." Next to La Male Regie y readers will probably be
most interested in " The Court of good Company's balade to Sir Hy.
Somer," p. 64.
In 1801 Dr. John Ley den printed Hoccleve's Mother of God,
p. 52-6 below, as Chaucer's, in his edition of the Complaynt of Scot-
^ The Dedication is well known for its defence of Sir John Falstaffe, and its
condemnation of Shakspere's ** ignorant shifte of abasing Sir Jhon " by substi-
tuting him for Oldcastle whom he had firat put into 1 Henry IV^ because Old-
castle's descendants objected to it. So in the Epilog to 2 Henry IK, Shakspere
wrote that he would ** continue the Story . . . where Falstaffe shall dye of a
sweat . . . For Old-Castle dyed a Martyr, and this is not the man." — See T?ie
Centurie of Praise, N. Sh. Soc, p. 164-6, 268-9.
xliv § 4. Prints of ffoccleve's Poems. The ** Letter of Gupidr
land,^ from John of Ireland's MS in the Advocates* Library, Edin-
burgh. The poem was also printed from Leyden, as Chaucer's, in the
First Series of Notes ^ Queries, vol. xii, p. 140-1, Aug. 25, 1855, and
by Dr. E. Morris in his Aldine edition of Chaucer's Poetical Works,
1866, at the end of voL vi, from the Bodleian MS Selden B 24.
Lastly (woe is me !) I printed it in 1878 from its only three known
MSS in the Chaucer Society's Parallel-Texts of the Minor Poems,
no. LVII, and separately, in 1880, from the Phillipps MS in no.
LXI, " A One-Text Print of Chaucer's Minor Poems," Part 11. Dr.
Murray read the copy with the MS for me. The other ten Poems
of the Phillipps MS appear for the first time in the present edition.
For the text of **The Letter of Cupid,*' 1402, p. 72, I must
apologize. I forgot to look at my old notes of 1871 for the MSS of
it, and used my Fairfax copy without testing it by Shirley's and
other MSS. Then I had it collated with these, and Prof. Skeat
toucht up the final e's; but still many parts of the text were un-
satisfactory, and the stanzas seemd in wrong order. Comparison
with Christine de Pisan's original— of which Hoccleve's poem is but
an adaptation with changes (see Notes below, p. 243), and to which
our good friend Prof. Paul Meyer referd me — showd that the Fairfax
man (or an earlier transcriber) had copied from a MS of which the
leaves had been shuffled like a pack of cards ; and last came Hoc-
cleve's autograph MS of the poem, which Lord Ashburnham has
kindly lent to our friend Mr. Israel GoUancz, who will edit it for us.
This set the stanzas in right order, and improved the text, tho Mr.
GoUancz's edition of it will be better, and of course the standard text.
The Durham MS I first saw in 1871 ("?), on my fruitless journey
north to try and see Mr. Bowes's Midland MS of Eobert of Brunne's
Handlyng Synne, a MS which has never been heard of since it was
in the late J. 0. Halli well's hands for use in his Glossary.^ Out of
this Durham MS some other ^'Furiows Foole" (p. xl n. above) has
torn out the first two sheets, a and b in eights, and the good old
tailor-antiquary, John Stowe, has copied a poor text in, on ten leaves
of paper. The vellum part, c — m in eights, n 1 — 3 (p. 115 below,
' E. E. T. Soc, Extra Series, 8, re-edited by Dr. J. A. H. Murray.
^ He told me that he borrowd it of, and retumd it to, Eirkpatrick Sharpe.
§ 4. HoccVs " Gesia Bomanorum " Stories, and "Zeme to Dye'* xl v
to the end) is in Hoccleve's hand, and has on the last page his
dedication to the Lady Westmorland, foUowd by his signature : see
the Facsimile, with all the later scribbles on it.
On the pathos of the poor sensitive old poet's sufferings under
the coldness and suspicions of his former friends, after his madness,
I have already remarkt. The best parts of the Durham volume are
Hoccleve's euglishings of the two stories from the Gesta Bomanorum,
The reader will find prose versions of them in the Society's edition
by Mr. S. J. Herrtage (Extra Series, 1879, no. 33), at pages 311-22
(Meielaus, as Jereslaus is there cald) and 180-96, the latter from
Addit. MS 9066, as well as Shirley's Harleian 7333, copied by
Impingham. The Emperor is there cald Godfridus. The Latin
originals are in Oesterley's 1872 edition of the Gesta, — the Wife of
the Emperor (or King) Octavianus and her scoundrel brother-in-
law, at p. 648-654, cap. 249, app. 53 ; the Magic Ring, Brooch and
Cloth, at p. 466 — 470, cap. 120 (112), De mulierum suhtili decepcione.
The king's name is Darius ; the third son's, Jonathas ; the " Puella
ejus concubina" — "puella satis formosa" — is unnamed. Hoccleve's
englishings and those of the prose Gesta should be read together.
The whole English Gesta was of course printed by the Roxburghe
Club in 1838, Sir F. Madden editing^ and I printed the prose
Me7*elaus for the Chaucer Society in 1872, no. 7 of its Second Series,
Part I of the " Originals and Analogues of some of Chaucer's Canter-
bury Tales," p. 55-70, in illustration of the Man of Law's Tale
of Constance. Of Magic Rings and Gems, Mr. Clouston has an
interesting account in my edition of John Lane's " Continuation of
Chaucer's Squire's Tale," p. 271, 334^47, 464, and of Magic Carpets
at p. 294 (Chaucer Society, 2nd Series, 1890).
Tho I've lookt thro the Index De Morte (besides others) in
Migne's Patrologice Cursus, as well as the Brit. Mus. Class Catalog
of MSS about Death, I have faild to find the original of Hoccleve's
Lerne to Dye, It was, however, that of a prose version (ab. 1430-40)
in the Lichfield Cathedral MS 16, which I saw years ago, and which
Miss Rosa Elverson has copied out for us. This version is there
attributed to St. Anselm (among whose works I can't see it), and is
headed "tractatus qui sdtte mori appellatwr." It begins **SyJ)J)e al
xlvi § 4. The Prose Treatises of " Lei^ne to Dyt'* John Oerson,
maner mew desireth by kynde to haue konnyng & knewliche on fe
hyje and euerlastyng wysdom," and gives Hoccleve's fourth stanza
(p. 179) thus: "First, y schal teche how J)ou schuldest deye; and
af tirward how J)ou schuldest lyue ; and after fat how J)ou schuldest
resceyue me by sacrement ; And at fe last, how fou schuldest preysy
me bysyli with a clene mynd."
Miss Elverson will edit this prose version for the Society, together
with the best known englishing (from the French) of the Latin Scite
Mori} by John Gerson, properly Jean Charlier, bom at Gerson. This
is Caxton's "The Art & Crafte to knowe well to dye" — "translated
oute ^f Frensshe into Englysshe by Will" Caxton," London, 1490,
folio, 13 leaves. Gerson was a contemporary of Hoccleve's, was
born in 1363, and died on July 12, 1429, and " is mainly remembered
in connection with his efforts to bring about a cessation of the great
schism which had divided the (Roman Catholic) church since 1378.
His proposal was to depose both the rival popes, and elect a third in
their room — a step which was taken by the council held at Pisa in
1409, of which Gerson was a member as deputy of the University of
Paris. . . In 1419 he returned to his native country, and spent the
last^ten years of his life with his brother, the prior of a community
of Celestine monks at Lyons, living an ascetic life, and devoting
himself to religious meditation and the composition of theological
and other treatises." — Blackie's Gydopobdia,
In the 1502 edition, printed by Hermann at Cologne, Gerson's
tract takes up only 2\ pages, and begins :
IF Johannes Gerson de Scientia bone mortis. Si veraces fide-
lesque amici cuiuspiaih egroti curam diligentius agant, pro ipsius vita
corporali fragili & defectibili conseruanda, exigunt a nobis multo
fortius deus & caritas pro salute sua spirituali sollicitudine^ gerere
spirituale^. In hac euim extrema mortis necessitate, fidelis probatur
amicus . . .
% Prima pars continet quatuor exhortatioiies. % Prima exhor-
tatio est, ** Amice dilecte aut dilecta, considera nos omnes subiectos
esse potenti manu dei, & ipsius voluntati omnes nos, cuiuscunque
conditionis aut status, reges, principes, aut diuites & pauperes, mortis
tributum soluere necesse est ... . [end of Part 4] Hinc expediens
videtur, vt in quibuslibet pauperum hospitalibus vel domibus dei
statuto firmaretur, ne quis ibidem eger suscipi posset, qui non primo
ingressus die confessionem faceret, vel ydoneo sacerdoti ad hoc ipsum
^ The Addit MS 16, 106 in the Brit Mus. is : "Tractatulus vtilissimu^ de
arte \)ene moriendi, doctors lacobi Carthusiensti^m prope Staffordiam, Incipit :
* Omnes morimnr, et qoaa aqua dilabimur in t^rram. ' "
§ 5. Copying in 1882. Miss Teena Bochford Smith, xlvii
deputato, paratus confiten se continuo penitaret, sicut in domo dei
Parisiensi laudabiliter obseruatur &c. Finit.
§ 5. The writing of these Forewords takes me back nearly ten
years, to the time when the Phillipps MS was copied, the autumn
of 1882. After a visit to my fellow-Shakspere-editor, Mr. W. G.
Stone, at his peaceful home at Walditch near Bridport, I went across
to work at MSS at Cheltenham, and to stop with the family of a
young-lady lover of Shakspere and Browning, who had been helpt
by my Introduction to the Leopold Shakspere and had written to
me. Daily, after my work at the Hoccleve and Chaucer MSS in
the Phillipps collection at Thirlestaine House, my gifted and sweet-
sould young friend took me for one of the pretty walks round the
town, sometimes through level meads, sometimes through Lackington
churchyard, or by other paths to the Cotswold Hills,^ talking of the
writers and people she honourd, telling me of her Indian life, her
work at Cheltenham College, and in the evening singing me favourite
songs, such as I named in my Forewords to the " Earliest English
Wills" (E. E. T. Soc, 1882, no. 78), last page. A pleasant time it
was ; and little did I then think that the happy and brilliant future
which I lookt forward to for my young friend would be so soon
ended by her sad burning, and her death a week after, on Sept. 4,
1883. The pain of that has now past, and the pleasure of the
friendship remains. It mingles in my mind with the delightful
summer Saturday afternoons and Sundays ^ last season on the river,
when we dined on the bank opposite Hampton Court and teaed
on Tatham's island — we, learned friends,^ gentle women, nice girls,
and darling children, with their pretty ways and eager "Oh, Doctor,
^ On one walk there, during a later short visit, the local hunt came on to the
Hills ; and very pretty it was to see the hounds searching the undergrowth
while the red-coats watcht them, but no fox tumd out to give them a run.
* How different it was yesterday, in our narrow sculling-four !— -dull sky,
bare banks, hardly a boat to be seen ; no fire in the lunch-room at Eelpie
Island, keen cold wind for our run and walk on the bank, and dead against us
all the way down. But still enjoyable, and the spurt enlivening.
' And — talk of golden garters 1 — did not one man famous for folk-lore, fairies,
philosophy, Hebrew, and all sorts of other things, sheen in the sunlight, when
he peeld to scull bow down-stream, and disclosed to our astonisht eyes, a cream
silk shirt 1 Could luxury further go 1
xlviii § 5. The proposed Lydgate and Hoccleve Society, 1872.
I can pull Uoo now. You como and see me ! Mother, you come
too 1 " " May we children have the heat all to ourselves 1 None of
you grown-ups. We can manage her, &c. &c." Bless em all 1 I
find life worth living. Don't you 1 Specially when you have an
old randan and can tow and scull. (Don't mention the washing-up
after picnic meals.) Well, the Phillipps copy was set, and ought to
have been issued in 1883 ; but I kept it back till I could complete,
or get completed, the copy of part of the Durham MS which some
good friend had transcribed for me years before. At last, after
borrowing the MS twice, by forbearing Mr. Fowler's indulgence, this
was managed. And here the Text at last is, as the foregoer, I trust,
of Mr. Gollancz's edition of the Ashburnham Minor Poems, and a
Text of The Eegement of Princes, when I can find out the best MS
of it.^ If any one will volunteer for the editing of this poem, it
shall be committed to his charge, for I haven't time for it. Still, if
no one else will do it, I will. My Circular proposing the " Lydgate
and Occleve Society" (in Ellesmere MS, Pt. IV) is dated 14 March,
1872, and says, " From the amount of work before the Early English
Text Society, it is clear that they cannot hope to print Lydgate's and
Occleve's Works for something like 20 years, though these works are
wanted by students at once . . I can do Occleve's ; " and I promist
that the first MS printed of him should be the Durham one of the
Complaint, &c., printed below. But not half of the 150 men I
wanted for a start, agreed to join, and so the Society never was.
Still, 1892 sees a book by Lydgate and one by Hoccleve issued by
the Early English Text Society, and others will follow. I feel
bound to try and see Hoccleve cleard, and Lydgate well started,
before I die.
I say thanks to Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Smith — who have long
since returnd to India, — to Mr. Fenwick of Thirlestaine House,
Cheltenham, Mr. Fowler of Bp. Hatfield's Hall, Durham, to Norroy,
^ Mr. A. B. Rogers at Cambridge, and Miss A. F. Parker at Oxford, have
examind for the Society all the Begement MSS with our facsimile page in the
present volume, to see if any has Hoccleve's most frequent w^ and they have
copied from every MS the three Chaucer stanzas p. xxxii-iii above, ** The firste
finder of our faire langage," &c., as a sample of each. We can thus tell which
are best worth collating further, if no autograph MS is hereafter found.
§ 5. Thanks to Helpers, F.S. Are the MSS, autograph, xlix
Mr. Horace Eouud, Prof. Skeat (for looking after the final es, &c.),
Mr. R G. Kirk, and all other helpers, including our collators Mr.
Rogers and Miss Parker, and Mr. Thomas Austin, who cut down the
Oxford collations to the Cupid, and has made the Index and
Glossary.
British Museum, Monday, 29 Feb. 1892,
7.30 j7.m., under the electric light.
P.S. 28 July 1892. After seeing how many carelessnesses there
are in the three MSS I have put down as Hoccleve's autograph ones,
I am obliged to doubt his having written them ; and I take refuge
in the conclusion that the larger writing of these MSS is more pro-
bably that of his clerk John Welde, or some like man, and that the
closer writing of his Dedication to Lady Westmorland, at the foot
of the facsimile, is alone in Hoccleve's own hand.
POOOLBVE, M.P.--U.
li
APPENDIX OF HOCCLEVE DOCUMENTS,
COPIED FROM THE EEOORD OFFICE
BY MR. R. E. G. KIRK,
I.
12 Nov. 1399. Grant of £10 a year to
Hoccleve for life, or until he gets a bene-
fice of £20 a year.
[Patent Roll, 1 Hen. lY., part 2, membrane 21.]
Pro Thoma Hoccleue.
TleXy Omnibus ad quos etc., salwtem. Sciatis, quod
de g7*acm nostra special!, et pro bono et laudabili semicio
quod dilec^us se?*uiens noster, Thomas Hoccleue, vnus
clericorwTTi nostromm de officio priuati sigilli nostii, a
longo tempore in officio predtc^o impendit, et impendet
inintvLTwn, concessimus eidem Thome, in mcremfmtum
status sui, decem libras, percipiendow annuatim ad
Qcaccanum nosirum, ad terminos Pasche et ^ancti
MichaeZis, per equales porciowes, ad terminum vite
ip«ius Thome, vel quonsque ip«e ad beneficium ecclesi-
asticum, sine cura, valoris viginti librarww per annum,
per nos fuerit promoter. In cuius etc. Teste Re^e,
apud Westmonasferium, xij die Nouembm.
Per hreue de "pviuato sigt'Z/o.^
1 1399. The Pells Issue Roll for Michaelmas 1 Henry lY.,
1399, has no mention of Hoccleve.
1400. Pells Issue Roll, Easter, 1 Henry lY. This roll does
not contain any payment to Hoccleve.
On membranes 3 and 10, and at the end, there are payments
to Richard Clifford, Clerk, Ke-eper of the Privy Seal, at the rate
of 209. a day, for his wages {mdiis). It is also stated, on m. 1,
that Kine Richard II. owed him £200.
Richard Clifford, Clerk, Junior, was Keeper of the Wardrobe
of Isabella, late Queen of England ; 5 August.
On m. 6 there is a payment to Geoffrey Chancer of part
of the annuity of £20 granted him by Ric. II., and confirmed
by Henry I V. This is printed by Sir Harris Nicolas : see
Chaucer's Poet. Works, ed. Morris, 1866, i. 107.
For the good
flervioeoiThos.
Hooclere, one or
our Prlvj-Seal
clerks.
We (Henrv IV)
baire granted him
£10 a year
for his life,
or until we pro-
mote him to an
ecclesiastical
benefice (without
cure of souls)
worth £2U a year.
12 Nov. 1S99.
d 2
lii
Appendix, Payments to Hocchve in 1400 and 1401.
To TliM. Hoc-
cleve, to whom,
oil 12 Nov. 1899,
Hen. IV. granted
£10 a jear
for his good
service, —
in inoiiey paid
by assignment.
for tlie time from
12 Nov. 1899 to
Michs. 1400.
£8. \U. Sit.
II.
13 Dec. 1400. First Payment to Hoccleve
of £8 155. 3rf., being so much of his £10
Annuity, granted on Nov. 12, 1399, as was
due at Michs. 1400.
[Pells Issue Boll, Midiaelmas, 2 Henry IV.]
Die Lune, xiij* die Decembm.
Thome Hoccleue, cui DommMS Rex nunc, xij° die
^owemhria proximo pret^rito,^ x. li. annwo^, ad Scoc-
carium, ad totam vitam suam, ad termiwos Sa?M5^i
MichoeZis ei Pasche, -per equales porcioT^es percipiendcw,
pro bono seruicio per ip^wm eidem Domino Regi im-
penso et impendendoy per UVeras suas patentee? concesaii ;
In denan/tf sibi liberatis, per assignacionem fac^am^ is to
die, in persoluc/o7iem viij. li. xv. s. iij. d. sibi liberan-
darwm de hmiismodi ce?'to suo, videlicet, tarn pro rata a
predicto xij° die Nouew677«, vsqwe vltimnm diem Marc*/
tunc proximum sequentem, per [blank] dies, vltimo die
et non primo compw^a^o, quam pro termiTio Sancti
MichaeZis vltfmo preterito, pe?* brewe suum de liberate
hoc te?*mi7zo viij. li. xv. s. iij. d.^
29 Not. 1401.
£5 to Michs.
III.
Michs. 3 Henry IV., 1401. This Roll contains a
payment for the half year of 100^. on Tuesday, 29
November; m. 11.
^ Tliat is, "last past" before Michaelmas day.
* ** assignatio facta ;" ab. 1400-24. In later times the word
** assignment" was used in the Exchequer in two senses— first,
as an assignment on a particular fund or branch of the revenue ;
secondly, as an assignment or transfer of an annuity by the
grantee to some other person ; but the former seems to be the
meaning in the entries relating to Hoccleve. Almost the last
entry I found, throws light on this point : it states that Hoc-
cleve had an assignment for the larger portion of his annuity,
and that only a small sum was paid to him "iw money." So
that when he was paid " by assignment," which was not always
the case, he may not have received the amounts on the days
specified in the rolls, if the revenues on which he had his assign-
ments had not come in ; but there are no records which would
Iielp to elucidate this question. It 13 probable however that the
assignment would not be made till the revenues were actually
in hand.
' There is a duplicate of this roll ; but the roll for Easter, 2
Hen. IV., 1401, is wanting, and there is no Auditors' or Tellers'
Koll for that term.
Appendix. Payments to Hoceleve in 1402 and 1403. liii
IV. a.
26 April, 1402. Payment to Hoccleve of
£5, his half-year's Annuity to Easter,
1402.
[Pella Issue Roll, Easter, 8 Henry IV.]
Die Mercum, xxvj. die Aprilw.
Thome Hoccleue, clenco, cui Dominua Rex nunc x li. Thomai
annual ad Scaccanwm ad totam vitani suam, ad tcrmi- J®^^®'^*
noa Sawc^i MichaeZis et Pasche per equales porctowes iv. granted*"'^
percipiendcw, pro bono seruicio per ipswni eidem Domino forhiltife:--
Regi impenso et impendencZo, per l/*/eras suas paten^e^
conces^}^ / In denari}'^ 8ibi liberates per manus propria^, in money paid
per 9iB8ignacionem fac^am isto die, in persoluciowem ^***"
C. s. sibi liberandore^m de huiusmodl certo suo, vide-
hcet, pro terniiwo Pasche vltimo prete?'ito per brewe to Eaater 1402,
suum etc C. s. ^*
IV. b.
In the next roll, Michs. 4 Henry IV., 1402, there is 7 Deo. 1402.
a payment to Thomas Occlive of 4\ 18'. 9^, part of t^mdxt^im.
100"., on Thursday, 7 December. (It is not stated
why he was mulcted in 1". 3^^)
V.
15 Oct. 1403. Payment to Hoccleve of £9,
his year's Annuity, less £l which he gives
up to get the £9.
[Pells Issue Roll, Michs. 5 Heniy IV.]
Die Lune, xv** die Octobrw.
Thome Hoccleue, vni Clericort/m de officio pn'uati Thomai
siffilli, cui Doininua Rex nunc x. li. annt^ew, ad Scae- Hoccleue.
xO WnOlTl CftS A
can'wm ad totam vitam suam, ad terminos Pasche et Pnvy-seai cierk)
Sawc^i MichoeZis per equales porcfowes percipiendow, pro "w a ylaf'""'*^
bono seruicio per ipmm de longo tempore in officio [yor^hislwiff
Y^redicto impenso et impendenrfo, vel quousqt^e idem SS^'*^ *". {Jl
Thomas ad beneficiu??i ecclewasticum sine cura valoris tiiuJe should ^*
XX. li. annuarwwi fuerit promotus, per li^eras suas ^lo'a^ew'"*^* ^^
patentes concessit; In den&rijs sibi liberatis per manus JJf ']),„"* fH'®
proprta^, in persolucionem x. li. sibi liberandarw;?! de in money paid
hui«^7no^4 ce?*to suo, videhcet, pro ierminta Pasche et for and to Easter
* The roll for Easter, 4 Hen. IV., 1403, does not contain any
payment to Hoccleve, who seems to have allowed it to get in ar-
rear. The Auditors' and Tellers* Rolls do not help. See next entry.
liv
Appendix, Payments to Hoccleve in 1404-6.
and MichaeimM Sancti MichaeZis vltimo preteritis, deductts vero xx. s.
less 20*. which quos dzc^s Thomas, de sua mera et spontanea voluntate,
the^KitTg"^*^ remisit et relaxauit dtc^o Domino Regi, pro solucio?je
in order to Ket the hafeenda de ix. li. residuis, pe?* brewe de priuato sicillo
remaining £9,— . j^jii- -t
«9. inter mandato de hoc te?Tnino ix. li.
6 March 1404.
£5 in advance,
due at Easter.
26 March 1406.
£5 to Michs. 1405.
18 May 1406.
£5 to Easter.
VI.
On the same Roll, under date of Thursday, 6 March
[1404], there is another payment of 100*. to Thomas
Occlyve for the Easter term following ; i. e. in advance.^
VII.
The roll for Michaelmas, 7 Henry IV., 1405, contains
the usual payment of 100*. to ** Thomas Occlyff*, Clerk,"
on Friday, 26 March 1406.
VIII.
The roll for Easter, 7 Henry IV., 1406, also con-
tains the usual entry for the half-yearly payment of
Hoccleve's 100' to Easter 1406, on Thursday, 13 May.
^ The roll for Easter is wanting, but probably contained no
payment to Hoccleve.
In the Auditors* Issue Roll, Easter, 5 Hen. IV., A.D. 1404,
there are two payments to . . . Blith, " pergamenarius " of
Lincoln, for parchment bought of him ** tarn pro oflBcio priuati
sigilli [et] duorwm VLemeTrwratovum de Scaccario (\uava. pro Re-
cepta eiusdem."
(In the roll for Easter, 12 Ric. II., these oflSces are described
thus : "tam pro expcnsis officij de priuato sigillo Regis qt/am
diMOTum Remeworatorwm de Scoccario et pro Recepta eiusdem
Scaccarij.'*)
John Burgh, who is mentioned in a subsequent payment to
Hoccleve, is here described as ** one of the Clerks of the Receipt "
[of the Exchequer], and as having an annuity of £20 hy grant
of Richard II., confirmed by Henry IV. This roll is very much
decayed and damaged, and, as expected, there is no payment to
Hoccleve, but there is a similar payment to some one else,
whose name is lost, under a grant of Ric. II. There are no
Tellers' Rolls for Easter or Trinity.
The three sets of rolls for Michaelmas, 6 Henry IV., 1404,
and Easter, 6 Henry IV., 1405, contain no payments to Hoc-
cleve. (Could he not get, or did he forego, payment ?)
In the Michaelmas roll there is a note that Thomas, Lord of
Fumy vail, the Lord Treasurer, "began in the second part" of
this term ; his first date being 13th December. In the Easter
roll, Thomas Langley, clerk. Keeper of the Privy Seal, is entered
as receiving 20«. a day, as other Keepers had done before him,
"until order should be taken for his continual dwelling within
the King's household " ; but on 1st March he was "exonerated "
from the ofi&ce. John Wisbech, his clerk, is mentioned in the
TeUers' Roll.
Appendix, Payments to Hocdeve in 1406 and 1407. Iv
IX.
14* Aug. 1406. Payment to Hoccleve of
£3 — 8rf. for parchment, ink, & red wax.
[Pells Issue Roll, Easter, 7 Henry IV.]
Die Sabba^i, xiiij. die AugustL
Thome Occliue, Clerico in officio priuat^ sigilli, In ToThos.Hoc-
denart/i? sibi Mhemiis per manus ^o^nas, in iperaolu- tife^Pri^-seS
cionem Ix. s. viij. d., quos Dominus Eex sibi liberar* ®®<'®'
niandauit pro pergameno, incausto, [et] cera rubea, de for parchment,
^ m • • • -y j»^* T~v • * T> • Ink (k red wux,
diue?*sis personis per ip^wm ad opus atcn Domtni Kegw bought for the
emptis, in officio p?'edic<o ; per brewe de priuato sigillo ^^^'
inter mandata de hoc termirio ... Ix. s. viij. d. £s. — sd.
X.
The Auditors* Issue Roll for Michaelmas, 8 Henry '^:l^^r^ ,.^
IV., 1406, contains no payment to Hoccleve; but the
Tellers' Roll has the following note : " Thome Occle
[sic], de X. li. annuw, per manzis proprtos, C. s."
XI.
The Roll next quoted contains the usual payment of ^* •^"^ ^*^'
Hoccleve's 100s. half-yearly, on Saturday, 12 June.
XII.
15 July 1407. Payment to Hoccleve of
£3 65. 8d. out of £7 9s, 10 ^d. due to
him for parchment, ink, and red wax.
[Pells Issue Roll, Easter, 8 Henry IV.]
Die Veneris xv. die Julij.
Thome Hoccleue, vni Clericorum in officio pnuati Thomas
sigilli, In dena,viJ8 sibi liberati;> per manus -proprias, in ^®^^*]^cierk
partem solucionis vij li. ixs. xd. ob. quos Dowzmus Rex in the Privy-
sibi liberart mandauit, pro pe?'gameno, incausto, cera inpart^yment
rubea, de diuersw personis per ip^wm ad opus Regis for%Rr'chnuint,
empkis, et in dtcto officio a xxvij® die Marcij anno vij® ^^"^^"JJ^r'*^ ^"'
Regis huius hucusqwe expenditts, per brewe de pnuato i406 to juiy is^
sigillo inter mando^a de hoc termino Ixvj. s. viij. d. itoi. m.
Ivi Appendix. Paymtivts to SoceUve. Sit fresh Penaion, 1409.
£4 Sf . 2|<f .
for p«rchiiMnt,
from 27 Mmrvh
140« to 12 July
1407.
4 Feb. 1408.
Half-yearly £ft
to Michs. 1407.
7 July 1408.
£5 to Easter.
18 Feb. 1400.
£5 to Micha.
XIII.
16 Jan. 1408. Payment to Hoccleve of
£4 35. 2^. on account for 16- months'
parchment, ink, and red wax.
[Auditors* Issue Roll, Michs. Hen. IV.]
Tuesday, 16 Jan. 1408.
Payment to " Thomas Occleve, clerk," of 4^ 3". 2 J*,
(part of a larger sum of 7^ 9*. lOJ*.) for parchment, ink,
and red wax, from 27 March, 7 Hen. IV. (1406) to
12 July, 8 Hen. IV. (1407), by the King's command.
XIV.
Saturday, 4 Feb. 1408.
Payment to "Thomas Occlyve, clerk," of lOOif. for
Michaelmas term, by his own hands.^
XV.
Easter, 9 Henry IV., 1408. Saturday, 7 July.
"Thomas Hocclyve Clerk," 100«.
XVI.
To
Michs. 10 Henry IV., 1408. Wednesday, 13 Feb-
ruary, 1409. To Thomas Occliff', lOOs.
XVII.
17 May 1409. Grant of £13 65. 8d. a year
from Michs, 1408, to Hoccleve, instead
of his former yearly £10.
[Patent Roll, 10 Hen. IV., part 2, membrane 24.]
Vi'o Thoma Hoccleue.
Reaj, Ommhiis ad quos etc., salwtem. Sciatis, quod
On Nov. 12, 1809, cum duodccimo die Nouembrw, anno regni nostri primo,
de gracta nostva. specmli, et pro bono et laudabili seruicio
quod dilcc^us seruiens ii06fer, Thomas Hoccleue, vnus
clericoTum nostvoTum de officio priuati sigilli nostri, a
longo tempore in officio py^edicto impenderat, et extunc
impenderet i concesserimus eidem Thome, in increraen-
tum status sui, decem librae, pe?'cipiend(w annuatim ad
Scaccan'wm nostrum, ad terminos Pasche et Sanc^i
^ These were not found on the Pells Issue Roll, which is
incomplete.
on account of the
(rood service of
TI1O0. Hoccleve,
one of our Prlvy-
Seal clerks,
we granted him
£10 a year
Appendix. HwxUm's fresh PeTmon. Payvientsinl^Q^, Ivii
MichoeZis, per equales porc/owes, pro termino vite ip^ius
Thome, vel quousqt^ ip«e ad beneficium eccle«iasticuni,
sine cura, valoris viginti librarwm per annum, pe?*
nos foret promotus, prout in \Uer\& no8tn'& patentibi^s
inde confec^is plenius continetwr; Nos, de vberiori
gracta nostrA ac in recompensacio?*em dtcrt seruicij
sui, pro eo qwod idem Thomas, dec^as ItYeras nostras
in Cancellanam no^^m restituit cancellando*, con-
cessimus ei viginti marcas, percipiendo^ ad dictum
Scaccanwm wosti^m^ a festo Sawcii Michoe/is vltimo
prete^ito, singulis annis durante vita sua, ad terminos
Pasche et Sanc^i MichaeZis, pe?* equales porcio?ies. In
cuius etc. Te^^e Re^e, apud We8tmona5ife?'m77i, xvij^
die Maij.
Per brewe de priua^o sigtZZo.
for his life,
or till wa should
promote him to a
benefice worth
£20 a year.
At Hoccleve has
returnd this
grant to be
camceld,
we irrant him 20
marks (£13 (te.8d.)
a year, from
Michaelmas, 1408.
XVIII.
23 May 1409. Half-yearly payment to
Hoccleve of £6 135. id, m respect of
his fresh annuity of £13 65. 8rf.
[Pells Issue Roll, Easter, 10 Henry IV.]
Die Veneris, xxiij® die Maij. ,
Thome Occlyue, cui Do?nmt^ Eex nunc x.li. [for xx To Thos.
marcas] singulis annis, ad Scacca?7*Mm ad totam vitam '*®**^*'®»
suam, ad terminos Sawed Michaelis et Pasche, per equales
porctones percipienda«, pro bono seruicio per ip^wm
eidem Domino Eegi impenso et impendendo, per hVeras
suas patentes concessit: In denar^s sibi libemtis per in money paid
manus p?*opna5, in pe?*solucwmem x matcamm^ sibi '**''*™»
libe?UQdarw7n de Yixxvismodi certo suo, wideltcet, pro tcr- for his | year's
mino Pasche vltimo prete?*ito, per brewe suum de liberate Eterf ^ ^""^
inter manda/ade hoc tej'mino vj. li. xiij.s. iiij.d.^ «6i5»«.*rf.
XIX.
Michs. 11 Hen. IV., 22 Nov. 1409. Tliomas Occliff* 22Noir.i409.
or Occlyff' (no further description), £6 13s. 4d. The £6is#.4<i. to
King had granted him ten pounds [for 20 marks] a Michaelmas,
year for life, for his good service, by letters patent.
(Master John Prophete is Keeper of the Privy Seal.)
^ xvij is written on an erasure.
* These sums are written on erasures, the amount having
probably been originally written " C. s." ; but the scribe omitted
to alter the "x. U." at the beginning.
Iviii Appendix, ffoccleve's fresh Pension. Payments in 14i^ 0-12,
Thomas
Hooelene.
To him, in money
by the hands
of Jn. Welde,
for ink, parch-
ment, and red
wax, from
21 Feb. 1409 to
21 April HIO,
£1 2$. 'id.
17 July 1410.
£6 ISf. 4d. to
Kaster.
8 July 1411.
£6 18«. 4d. to
Michaelmas 1410.
26 Feb. 1412,
£1.H 6$. M., 1 year
to Michs. 1411.
XX.
23 June, 1410. Payment to Hoccleve of
£l 25. 2d. for 14 months* ink, wax, and
parchment.
[Pells Issue Roll, Easter, 11 Henry IV.]
Die Liine, xxiij die Junij.
Thome Hoccleue, Clerico in officio priuati sigiUi, In
denarijs sibi liberat?'^ per manus Johamds WeW,^ in
persolucibwem xxij.s. ij.d. quos Dominua Rex sibi
liberan inandauit pro incausto, pe/'gameno, cera nibea,
per ipawm emptis et expendend/5 in officio prcdicto,
videh'c^t, a xxj® die Fehiuai'tj aimo x°, Ysque xxiiij*^"*
diem Aprilis anno xj® vlU'mo preterito, per brez^e de pri-
uato sigillo inter mandata de hoc termiiio xxij.s. ij.d.
XXI.
Easter, 11 Hen. IV. Thursday, 17 July. Thomas
Hocclyflf. The King had granted him 20 marks [13*.
6'. 8*.] a year for life, by letters patent, payable half-
yearly. (He is not called Clerk here. There is no pay-
ment to him for Michaelmas, 12 Hen. IV., a.d. 1410,
either in the Pells or the Auditors* Roll.)
XXII.
1411, Easter,2 12 Hen. IV., 8 July. To Thomas Hoc-
clyf (or Hocclyflf'), one of the Clerks, &c., 6\ 13". 4^
XXIII.
Michs. 13 Hen. IV. (1411), 26 Feb. 1412, Friday. To
Thomas Occlyve (or OccliflT), one, &c., 13* 6". 8*. for
the terms of Easter and Michaelmas last. This pay-
ment is also recorded in the Tellers' Roll for Hilary,
13 Hen. IV.^
^ John Weld is afterwards described as Hoccleve's clerk. A
John Wold or Wolde was keeper of the King's lions and leopards
in the Tower of London i Mich., 10 Hen. IV., et ante,
^ This, tho' cald an Easter payment, was no doubt for Michs.
1410 — see last entry, as the next payment is for the whole
year 1411 (see XXVI). If not, Hoccleve was paid twice over
for Fflstfif 1411
8 1412, EasteV, 13 Hen. IV. The Pells Issue Roll is wanting.
The Auditors' Issue Roll and the Tellers' Roll are also wanting.
1412, Michs. 14 Hen. IV. No pavment found. The Pells Roll
seems to be imperfect, the first date beinff 25 January. There
is no Auditors' Koll, but there is a Tellers Roll for Michaelmas.
{See extract.)
Payment to Hoccleve. His Annuity Gonfirmd, 1412, 1413. lix
XXIV.
5 Nov. 1412. Payment to Hoccleve of 325.
for parchment and ink.
[Tellers' Roll, Michs. 14 Hen. IV.]
Die Saboti, quinto die Nouembm.
[It is somewhat doubtful whether this date applies
to the following entry.]
Thome Hocclyffe, per manws Johawnis Weld*, pro To t. Hoccleve
pergameno et incausto emptw in officio Custod/s priuati '°'"*"''*^'»
sigiUi xxxij.s.i 82f.
XXV.
28 Sept. 1413. Inspeximus and Confirm-
ation by Henry V. of Hoccleve's Annuity
of £13 65. 8c?., with the arrears from
Michs. 1412.
[Patent Roll, 1 Henry V., part 4, membrane 25.]
De confirmaczowe — Hoccleue.
Hex, Omnihus ad quos etc., salwtem. Inspeximus lite- we have seen oar
ras patentes carissimi Domini et pa^is nostin. Do7?iini '"^^ *''*'^'«'^ »
Heninci nuper Eegis Anghe factor in hec verba. Henricus
Dei gracm Eex Angh'e et Francee et Dom/nws Hibe^-nie
Omnihtis ad quos [etc. as in the Patent Boll of 10 grant of £i8
Henry IV,, 17 May, 1409, J9. liv, above] Tiios.'Hocdeve,
Teste me ipso, apud Wesimonasterium, decimo septimo oni7May i409;
die Maij, anno regni nostii decimo. Nos autem, de
gracia nostio. speaali, et pro bono se?'uicio nobis per and on account of
prefatum Thomam impenso et impendendo, concessi- S^Ji^Wusr*^
onem predtc^am, ac omnia et singula in hYeris predic^is
contenta, rata he/ Rentes et grata, ea pro nohis et heredi-
\yu8 nostns, quantum in nobis est, acceptamtw, approba- we approve and
mus, et p7-efato Thome, teiiore presencium, concedimus thesaidanln™
et confirmamus, prout litere -predicte ractonabiliter tes-
tantwr. Ita semper qwod idem Thomas, pro termino
^ There is also a payment to Thomas, late Lord of Furnyvall,
and Sir John Pelham, late Treasurers of the Wars ; also two
payments to Walter Lucy for parchment for the Receipt of the
Exchequer and the Privy-Seal Office. There is no reference to
Hoccleve's annuity. The roll for Hilary term following is
wanting. It may have been in that. The roll for Easter
1 Henry V., 1413, omits all reference to Hoccleve, because the
annuity had not then been confirmed by the new King. »
Ix
Appendix, PaymenU to Eoccleve in 1418 and 1414.
provided the said
Hoccleve is not
retaind by any
one else.
And we also grant
liiin the arrears
of liis said
Annuity since
last Michaelmas,
1412.
Given 28 Sept.
141S.
To Tboe. Hoc-
cleve,— a Privy-
Seal clerk,
to whom
Henry IV. KTantcd
£13 6«. Sd. a year,
wliich was con-
ilrmd by Henry V.
on 28 Sept. last —
in money paid to
him,
for the terms of
Easter and Mich-
aelmas last.
£13 6^. M.
vite sue, cum aliquo alio Tpreterquam nobiscum non
retineatw?*. Et vlte;*ius, de vbe?iori gracia nostieiy con-
cessimus prcfato Thome, id quod ei aretro est de annui-
tate sua predtc^a, a festo ^ancti MichaeZis vltinio pre-
terito, habendum de dono nostro. In cuius etc. Teste
Rege, apud Westmonasteriunif xxviij die Septembrw.
Per hreuQ de priuato sigillo.
XXVI.
1 Dec. 1413. Payment to Hoccleve of a
year's arrear of his Annuity of £13 65. 8d.
to Michs. 1413.
[Pells Issue Roll, Michaelmas, 1 Henry V.]
Die Vene?is, primo die Decembm.
Thome Iloccleae, vni Clericorttm de officio pnuati
sigilli, cui Doininus Jienricus, nuper Rex Anglt«, xx
maTcas ajiuuas ad Scaccarium Buum, ad terminos Pasche
et ^ancti Michaelis per equales porciones pe?*cipiend«5,
^er hVeras suas patentee concern^ ; quas quidem UYeras
Dominus Rex nunc, xxviij ° die Septembm proximo
p'etento, confirmauit : In denany^ sibi libemtzs per
mantis propria^, in persoluctonem xx marcarwm, quas
idem Dominus Rex nunc de vberiore grocta sua liberare
m^ndauit, ha^ndas de dono suo pro arreragijs annui-
tatis predzc^e, videlicet pro termim's Pasche et Sancrt
MichaeZis vltimis pretenYz*, per brewe suu/n de liberate
inte?* manda^a de hoc termiwo. xiij.li. vj.s. viij.d.^
To Thos. Occleve,
paid by the hands
of his clerk,
Jn. Welde,
XXVII.
17 Jan. 1414. Payment to Hoccleve of
£1 6s. 8d,y for nine months' parchment,
ink, and red wax.
[Pells Issue Roll, Michs. 2 Hen. V.]
Die Jouia, xvij° die Januarij.
Thome Occlyffe, Clerico in officio priuati sigilU', In
dcna?iJ8 sibi libe?'atw, per manus Johawnis Welde,
Clmci sui, in persoluciowem xxvj. s. viij. d. quos
^ Master John Prophete is still Keeper of the Piivy Seal, and
receives " wages and fees," at the rate of 20*. a day. A payment
to John Welde and five companions in the Privy-Seal Office, for
copying out old "truces" with foreign countries, at the rate of
6s. 8d. to each, is quoted in Devon's *' Issues of the Exchequer,"
p. 331.
Appendix. PaymerUs to Hoccleve in 1414 — 1416. Ixi
Domintis Rex eidem Thome liberare mandauit, pro
pcrgaraeno, incausto, cera rubea, per ipeum. emptw, et for parchment,
expendtYw^ in officio priuaU' sigilli ditti Domini Regis, ©ipiJIded'^in tS?'
videltcet, a quinto die Marcij vlttmo preterite, \sque 5 mSciTuis.
xiij diem Decembm extunc proxtmc sequen^em; per to is Dec.
feewe de priuato sigillo inter mandata de hoc termino
XXVJ 8. Viij d. 26». 8d.
xxviir.
1414, Easter, 2 Hen. V. 2 May, Wednesday. To ^jy i«*-
Thomas Hoccleve, one &c. 6^ 13*. 4**. to Easter.'
[Thomas Chancers, Esquire (scutt/er), was sent
to the Dukes of Burgundy & Holland.]
XXIX.
1415, Easter, 3 Hen. V. Xo payment on the Pells •••i*^^.
Roll. No Auditors' Roll. (A William Hokhyrst is to Easter iiis.
mentioned.) The payment seems however to have
been made, as the Tellers' Roll for Trinity, 3 Henry
v., contains the following undated entry —
" Thome Occleve, de ce/-to suo annuo . x. niarce."
XXX.
1415, Mich., 3 Hen. V. 29 Feb., 1416, Saturday. 29Keb.ui6.
"To Thomas Hoccleve, one of the Clerks of the toilciilfiiis.
Lord the King of the Office of his Privy Seal," for
Michaelmas, 6^ 13*. 4**. (This i^a fuller description
than usual.)
XXXI.
18 July, 1416. Half-yearly payment to
Hoccleve by 3 iustalments, through friends,
of £6 135. 4d to Easter, with 13s. 4d
on loan.
Pells Issue RoU, Easter, 4 Hen. V.
Die Sahbati, xviij° die Julij.
Thome Hoccleue, vni Clericorw??^ in officio priuati Thomas
sigilli Regis, cui Doininus Kenricus nuper Rex Angh'e, Occleue.
pater Domini Regis nunc, xx marcas ad Scaccai'ium cierkofUie
suum singulis annis durante vita sua, ad terminos ^"^J'-^^* office,
Pasche et Sancti MichocZis, per equales porciowes per-
^ Expenditis, for expensis.
Ixii
Appendix, Payments to Hoccleve in 1417.
Said thro'
n. Barsh £%,
thro' Rob.
Welton, 6$. M.,
thro' Jn. Welde,
Hoccleve's clerk,
£4 6s. 8d.,
to Easter, 1416,
£6 13». id..
and thro'
Jn. Welde,
as a loan, IS*. 4d.
To hinn, tliro*
Jn. Welde, his
clerk.
for ink and red
wax, bought of
Walter Lucy,
cipiendflw, per lii^cras suas concessit, — quas quidem hVeras
dzc^us DominuQ Rex nunc confirniauit : — In denany^^
sibi liWat/5, videlicet, per manw5 Johannis Burgh*,^
xl. s. ; per iimnus RobMi "Welton',2 vj. s. viij. d. ; et
per mBjiiis JohanniB Welde,^ Clerici sui, iiij. IL vj. s.
viiij. d. , in persoluc^o7^em x viarcarvm sibi liberandarwm
de hvLVusmodi certo suo, videltcet, pro tcrmino Pasche
vltimo preterite, per brewe de liberate inter mandata de
hoc termiwo vj. li. xiij. s. iiij. d.
Eidem Thome, In denarijs sibi liberatis per manus
predicti ^oYianim Welde, Cle?ici sui, de prestito snp^
hmusmodi certo suo xiij. s. iiij d.
vnde
Respondebit.
XXXII.
14 Feb. 1417. Payment to Hoccleve of
£2 Qs. 8rf. for 4 months ink and red wax.
[Pells Issue Roll, Michs. 4 Hen. V.]
Die Sabba/i, xiiij® die Febn^ry.
Thome [Hoccleve*], vni Clericorww in officio priuati
sigilli Domini Regis, In denaW;^ sibi liberatis per
manus Johawwis "Welde,^ clerici sui, in persoluctoT^em
xlvj. s. viij. d., quos Dwn/nws Rex sibi liberare man-
dauit, pro incausto et cera rubia pe?* ipswm empt/s de
Walte?'o Lucy, haberdassher, London', et inter xvj diem
^ John Burgh, ** Esquire," is still mentioned on m. 9 as
receiving an annuity of 201. under a grant of Richard II ; see
p. lii.
^ Robert Welton is also mentioned on this Roll, m. 9 and
14, as one of the Clerks of the Receipt of the Exchequer. He
had an annuity of 20^. by grant of Henry IV., and had been
sent to Boston and Hull to oversee the customers [receivers of
customs-dues], and ascertain the amounts of their receipts.
* On 27 May, John Welde, ** one of the Clerks in the Office
of the Privy Seal," received 205., which the King commanded
to be paid him as a reward for his labours in that Office.
* Blank : no doubt meant for Hoccleve.
6 1418, Pells Issue Rolls, Easter, 6 Hen. V.
*' Die Veneris xiij° die Maij. JohaTim Welde et WilleZmo
Albertyn, Clericis in officio priuati sigilli, In denarv« sibi liber-
atis per manus propriow, in persolucioriem Iiij. s. iiij. d. eis
liberandorwm de regardo speciali, per auisamentum Consilij
Domini Regis, eis iacto pro laboribw* per ipsos habitis in officio
predtcto per tres annos yitimoa preteritos, tarn apud Calesiaw
[Calais] qttam infra regnum Anglte, absot^ feodo vel annuitate
de Rege percepto per idem tempus ; per orewe de priuato sigillo
inter maudoto de noc termiTio ...... Iiij. s. iiij. d."
Appendix. Payments to Hoccleve in 1417 — 1419. Ixiii
Decembmanno secundo et iiij *"~ diem Aprilis anno from w Dec. ui4
quarto expendentis ^ in officio -predicto ; per hrette de *** * ^^^^' ^*^^'
priuato sigillo inter mandata de termino Pasche vltimo
pretmto xlvj. s. viij. d. £2 e$. w.
XXXIII.
13 March, Saturday. Payment of the annuity for is March ui7.
Michaelmas, "by his own hands,** — 6.* 13". 4**. to Miciia. uie.
XXXIV.
1417, Easter, 5 Hen. V. 25 May, Friday. To Thomas 25 May hit.
Hoccleve, one &c., for Easter, 6\ 13*. 4**. (It does to Easter.'
not say that the payment was made to **his own
hands.")
XXXV.
1417, Michs. 5 Henry V. 30 Nov. Monday. Payment so Nov. un.
of part, " by his own hands,"— 31 6\ 8*. *' *•' ***
10 Feb. Thursday. Payment of the rest, "by loFeb.uis,
his own hands,'* — 3\ 6*. 8*.^ toMichs.ui?.
XXXVI.
1418, Easter, 6 Hen. V. 1 July, Friday. Payment iJaiT,i4i8.
to Hoccleve for Easter term,— 6\ 13'. 4^ toESietf"
XXXVII.
1418, Michs. 6 Hen. V. 7 Dec, Wednesday. To l^^^^^^*
ThomasHocclyf, one, &c., for Michaelmas, 6^ 13*. 4^ to Michs. *
(It does not say " by his own hands.")
XXXVIII.
1419, Easter, 7 Hen. V. 8 July, Saturday. To Thomas a Juij. i«9.
Hoccleve, one, &c., "by his own hands," for Easter, to Easter. '
&, 13". 4^
XXXIX.
1419, July 10. Payment of 125. 2d. to
Hoccleve for 16 moDths' red wax and ink.
[Pells Issue Roll, Easter, 7 Hen. V.«]
* Sic, for expendendis, or expendUis, as in other accounts.
' John, Lord of Fumyvall, Keeper of the King's land of
Ireland, is mentioned on membrane 15.
Ixiv
Appendix, Payments to Hoccleve in 1419 — 1421.
Thomai
Hoccleve.
To him, for
red wax and ink
bought of
Walter Lucy,
flrom March 6,
1418, to July 10,
1419,
129. 2d.
Die Lune, x'* die Julij (1419).
Thome Hoccleve, viii Clencorum in ofl&cio prmati
sigilli, In denany« sibi deliberatis per manus propncw,
pro cera rubea et incausto,^ de Waltero Lucy, Ciui ei
haberdassher London*, per ips?zm empti«, et in officio
predic/o inter vj*^ diem Marcij anno quinto et x™ diem
Julij anno vij™° expenditw ; per hreuQ de p77uato Sigillo
inter manda^a de hoc termi??o .... xij, s. ij. d.
22 Not. 1419.
JC6 1S«. M.
to Michs., 1419.
XL.
1419, Michs. 7 Hen. V. 22 Nov. Wednesday. To
Thomas Hocclyve, one, &c., for Michs., 6\ 13". 4*.
(It does not say ** by his own hands.")
17 June, 1420.
£6 13f. id.
to Easter.
XLI.
1420, Easter, 8 Hen. V. 17 June, Monday. Payment
for Easter, 6*. 13'. 4*. ** by his own hands."
26 Nov. 1420.
£6 18«. 4d.
to Micha.
5 July. 1421.
£6 139. id.
to Easter.
11 Nov. 1421.
£6 18«. id.
to Michs.
XLIL
1420, Michs. 8 Hen. V. 26 Kov., Tuesday. To
Thomas Occleve, one, &c., *'by his own hands," for
Mich., 6^ 13'. 4^
XLIIL
1421, Easter, 9 Hen. V. 5 July, Saturday. Payment
to Hoccleve for Easter, 6\ 13'. 4**, " by his own
hands."
XLIV.
1421, Michs. 9 Hen. V. 11 Nov., Tuesday,
payment to Hoccleve, **by his own hands."
Similar
^ The payments for parchment during this time were made
direct to Lucy : see Pells Issue Roll, Mich. 7 Hen. V., A.D.
1419: **Die Jouis xxx"° die Nouembris. "Walt^ro Lucy, Ciui
«t Haberdassher London*, In denari;* sibi hberatis per manus
proprwM, pro pergameno pro officio priuati sigilli, tempore
festinacioTiis ct necessitatis ab eo empto ad vices : per brewe
generale vt supra — xiij. s. vj. d." In the next roll, Easter,
8 Hen. V. , under date of 3 July, there is another payment to
Lucy for four bundles of parchment at certain prices, for the
office of the Privy Seal, and for the Receipt of the Exchequer,
under a general writ.
Appendix, Payments to Hoccleve in 1422.
Ixv
XLV.
23 Feb. 1422. Payment to Hoccleve of
405. 11^. for 19 months' red wax and
ink.
[Pells Issue Roll, Michs. 9 Hen. V., 1421.]
Die Lune, xxiij. die Febrt^art; [1422].
Thome Hoccleue, vni Clericorwm in officio priuati
fiigilh* Regis, et WilleZwo Alberton', Clerico in eodem
officio, In denaw;^ eis liberatt^, videUcet, per mant^
predict Thome, xl.s. xj.d. ob. p?'o cera rubea et in-
causto^ emptis de Waltero Lucy, Ciui Londonie, ad
opus Regis, et exponditis in dicto officio, videKcet, a x"*°
die Julij Anno vij. eiusdem Regis vsqwe x™ diem Feb-
TuaHj ylUmo ^eteritum ; et per manw5 dicti WilleZmi,
xviij.s. iiij.d. tarn pro pergameno per ip«wm empto ad
opus dic^i Regis et expendito in dicio officio, tempore
quo dicfus Rex vlttmo erat apud Eboracwm et partes
ibicZem, qz^m pro soluciowe per ipswm nuper fac^a apud
Ciuitatem Lincolnze diuersis personis ibidem, pro certis
UYeris Regis portandw in Q/omitatum Cornubie; per
brewe de priuato sigillo inter manda^a de hoc termiTio
lix.s. iij.d. ob.2
Thomas
Hoccleue.
To him
40». \\\a.
for red wax ana
ink bought for the
Privy Seal Office
from July 10,
1419 to Feb. 10,
1422;
and to Wm.
Alberton 18«. id.
for parchment
bought
when Hen. V.
was at York,
and for money
J>aid at Lincoln
or sending the
King's letters to
Cornwall j
£2 19*. S^.
XLVI.
25 May, 1422. Payment to Hoccleve of his
half-yearly £6 135. 4c?. to Easter.
[Pells Issue Roll, Easter, 10 Hen. V.] ^
Die Lune, xxv. die Maij.
Thome Hoccleue, vni Cl6'?icorww in officio priuati ToThos. hoc-
sigilli Do??imi Kenrtci nuper 'Regis AngUe, pa^ris 'Regis pdvy-seai office*
nuwc, cui idem nuper Rex, pro bono et laudabili se7*uicio <>''**®"- '^•'
per ip^-wm eidem nuper Regi impenso et impendendo,
XX marcas percipiendo^ sing?dis annis ad Scaccarium. who gave him
8uu??i, pro tej'miwo vite ipsius Thome, ad te^'miwos Pasche for iife, for Sil
et Sa?icd MichoeZis per equales porciones, per kVeras k**®*^ »«''^»<*»
^ So, for 'incausto.'
* Among the "Liberationes" to the "ministers" of the
Exchequer from 14 January to 28 March is the following entry :
"Waltero Lucy de London', Haberdassher, In denari;» sibi
liberatis per mant^ propriew, pro pergameno ab eo empto, tam
pro officio Thesawrany et Camerariorw7n de ScaccaWo, qwam
priuati Sigilli Domzni Regis ....... xlv.s. ij.d."
There is a duplicate of this roll.
HOCCLEVE. — M.P. 6
ear
Ixvi Soccleves Annuity Gonfirmd, Payment to Him in 1423.
and Hen. V.
confirmd it,—
£6 2«. 1^. by
assignment,
and 10«. 8^^ in
money;
£6 134. 4^.
SUES patentes concessit, quas quidem kYeras dtc^s Donii-
nus Eex mmo confirmauit ; In denary*? sibi liberatis per
manus p?'oprior5, videlicet, "per assignadonem foc^ani isto
die, vj.li. ij.s. vij.d. ob., et in moneta x.8. viij.d. ob., in
peraolticionem x marcarum sibi liberatarwm de hxnus-
modi certo suo, videlicet, pro termino Pascbe yWmw pre-
terito; per bret^ de libsrate inter mandato de hoc
termiwo vj. li. xiij.s. iiij.d.
We have seen the
confinnation by
Henry V.
of Hoccleve's
Annuity of
£18 6«.8d. granted
by Hen. IV.
on 28 Sept. 1413.
Ry the advice of
Oar Council,
We approve and
confirm the same.
24 Jan. 1422-3.
XLYII.
24 Jan. 1423. Inspeximus and Confirma-
tion by Henry VI. of Hoccleve's Annuity
of £13 65. 8d
[Patent Roll, 1 Henry YI., part 2, membrane 7.]
De confirmacione — Hoccleue.
Eea;, OmnShiis ad quos etc., salwtem. Inspexiraz^
kYeras patentes carissimi Domini et paft:is nostd Kegis
Henreci quinti defuncti, de confirmactOTze facias in bee
verba: **Henricus, Dei gracta Eex AngKe et Franc/e,
et T>omixiuB Hend',^ Ommbws ad quos (&c., as in the
Patent of I Hen, F., 28 Sept 1413)
In cuius rei testimonium, has kYeras nostes fieri fecimws
patentes. Teste me ipso, apud WestmoTia^enwrn, vice-
simo octauo die Septembm anno regni nostri primo."
Nos autem dic^as 1/Yeras ipsius pa^ris nostri, de auisa-
mento magni Consilij nostii, approbamus, ratificamus
et confirmamus, prout hVere predtc^e raczonabiliter tes-
tantwr. In cuius etc. Tes^e Ee^e, apud Weatmonas-
terium, xxiiij die Januarij.
Per brewe de priuato sigillo.
XLVIII.
15 Feb. 1423. Payment to Hoccleve of a
half-year's Annuity (£6 135. id.) to Michs.
1422.
[Pells Issue Rolls, Michaelmas, 1 Henry VI.]
* Sic, for Hibemie.
Appendix. Payments to HoecUve in 1423. Ixvii
Die Lune, xv° die FebrMari;.
Thome Hoccleue, mxper vni dericoxum in officio ToTho*. Hoc-
priuati sigtZW Domini nenrtd nuper Regw Anglie, aui S*the prfvy-aSw?
"Regis nunc i cui idem nuper Rex, pre; bono et laudabili 2f??hom Henry
seruicio per ip«{/m Thomam eidem nuper Regi impenso i^-
et impendendo, xx mar(;a^ percipiendof ad Scaccarium IS"e«. sd. a year
suum, singulis anntg durante vita sua, ad terminos '®*'^^*"''^»
Pasche et Sancti MicboeZis per equaled porctcnes, per
It/eras suas paten^e^ concern/: quas quidem liters pater ^
Regis nunc ac idem Domimia Rex confirmauert^n/ : andHeuyv.
I J •• •• • <i«'i .• • • and vl. oonflrmd
II aenan;^ sibi liberates per mantis propnow, m per- it,—
solucionem x marcarum sibi liberandarwm de huit^- *" "»o»«y p*''^
modi certo suo, yidelicet, pro termiwo Sancti MicbaeZis for a half-year's
ylUmo p7*eterito, per brewe de liberate inter msjidata de im, ^ ^ ^*'*'*'
hoc termino vj.li. xiij.s. iiij.d. «6 is«. id.
XLIX.
20 May 1423. Payment to Hoccleve of a
half-year's Annuity, £6 135. 4rf., to
Eaater 1423.
[Polls Issue Roll, Easter, 1 Hen. YL]
Die Jouis, xx® die Maij.^
Thome Hoccleue, nuper vni Clericorwm in officio Thomas
pnuati sigilli Dowitni Kenrici nuper Regis Anglte, aui ?J?*®p*JJ**s^
Regis nuTOC, cui idem nuper Rex — pro bono et laudabili cTerk, JwLm
seruicio per ip«wm Thomam eidem nuper Regi impenso ^SLi^*
et impendendo — xx. marcoe percipiendoe ad Scaecanum *^' «•• ^ * !•«••
suum singulis annt^ durante vita sua, ad terminos Pasche
et Bancti MichoeZw per equales porciones, per hYeras
suas patentes conce^etY : quas quidem UYeras Dominus and Henry v.
Kenricifs nuper Rex, pater Regis nuwc, ac idem Domi- *"* ^^*
ni*s Rex nunc confirmauerun/ : In denar?Ve sibi liberatis confirmd it-
7 . •!. in money paid to
per manus propnae, m persolucionem x marcarum sibi forai^ywK'him
liberandarum de huiusmodi certo suo, videlicet, pro ter- *»°"*'J^ ^
mino Pasche vltmo preterito, per breue de liberate inter Easter, i«8,
mandoto de hoc termim) .... vj.li. xiij.s. iiij.d. £«is«.id.
^ This is expressed more fully in the following Roll.
' This headinjg applies to both this and the next Hoccleve
entry on this roll, but they are some distance apart
e 2
Ixviii Payment to Hocdeve in 1423. Grant of a Corrody, 1424.
Thomas
Hoccleue,
of the Privy-Seal
Office, paid to liim
for red wax and
ink,
boogfat of Walter
Lucy of London,
for the Office,
from 9 Feb. 1422
to 19 May 1423,
tU.ld,
20 May 1423. Grant to Hoccleve of 23s.
\d, for red wax and ink, bought for the
Privy- Seal Office.
[Pells Issue Roll, Easter, 1 Henry VI.]
Thome Hoccleue, de officio prmati sigilli 'Domini
Kegis, In denary « sibi liberatw par mamis propncw, in
persoluctOTiem xxiij.s. iiij.d.^ quos DominuQ Rex nunc
eidem Thome liberare mandanit pro cera rubea et in-
causto, per ipw^m emptw de Waltero Lucy de London',
et in ddcto officio expenditw, a ix® die ¥ehniarij\ anno
ix** Begis Henrtct q\iinti, po^ris Eegis nunc, vsque xix
die[m] Maij \\timo ipreteriUimf per hieue de prmato si-
gillo inter manda^a de hoc termiwo . . xxiij.s. j.d.*
To the King and
Council.
Thos. Hoccleve
of the PriTy-Seal
Office begs you to
grant him sucli
{>rovision for life
n Soatbwiclc
Priory, Hants, as
the late N. Mok-
kyng had.
LL
4 July 1424. Grant to Hoccleve of the
Corrody that the late Nicholas Mokkyng
had in the Priory of Southwick, Hants.
[Privy-Council Proceedings and OrdinanceSf 1422-9,
vol. iii, p. 152, ed. Nicolas, 1834.]
[Additional MS. in British Museum 4604, art. 34 ; a
modern Transcript. — Petition to the King and Council,
with the answer, 4th July, 2 Hen. VI. 1424.]
" Au Eoy, notre tresredoute et soverain seigneur, et
as tresnobles et tressages seigneurs de son Consail.
" Supplie votre treshumble clerc, Thomas Hoccleve,
de I'office du prive seal, quil plaise a voz tresnobles seign-
uries lui granter autiele sustenance, a prendre chascun
an durante sa vie, en la priore de Suthwyk en cont^ de
Suthamptofi, come Nichol Mokkynge, que mort est, —
nadgaire Maistre de Saint Laurance de Ponteneye en
Londres — avoit et prist en la dtcie priorie quant il
vesquist,^ pour Dieu et en oevre de charitee,
1 Sic.
^ **j.d." is written over an erasure ; probably a correction of
the **iiij.d." above.
' As Hoccleve's annuity was paid to Michs. 1425, it isn't
certain that this Southwick corrody was worth £20 a year so as
to stop the King's annuity under the original (p. xlix) and the
substituted Grants. But the Treasurer no doubt did stop it
after 14^5.
Appendix. Last Paymervt of Hocckve's Annuity^ 1426. Ixix
'< H. Gloucestre. H. Cantuarten^. J. Londonzen«t9.
H. Wyntonierww. VYdlippus Wygomieiww. Warie-
wyk. Scrop. HungerfonL
'* {In dorso) iiij die Julij, anno seccmdo, apnd West- 4JaiTi4M.
monasferium, concessa f uit prsesens supplicatio in forma ^titionu'
qua petitur, prsBsentibus dominis infrascriptis.** granted.
LIL
1424, Michs. 3 Hen. VI. Thomas Hocclyff, laie one of 27 not. u24.
the Clerks in the office of the Privy Seal, to Henry MichaeimM?
IV., who for his good service gave him 20 marks
yearly by letters patent, confirmed by the present
King: — 6\ 13". 4*. for the half-year, paid into his
own hands on Monday, 27 November.
LIII.
11 Feb. 1426. Payment of Hoccleve's last
half-year's Annuity (£6 135. 4dl.) to
Michs. 1425.
[Pells Issue Roll, Michaelmas, 4 Hen. YI.]
Die Lune, xj® die Febrwany.
Thome Hocclyff*, nuper vni Cle?*icorMm in officio ToTho«.Hoo-
• A* • •ii» T^ • • TT •• T>»ii« • clev6, l*t6 on6 of
priuati sigilli Vomtni tiennci nnper Eegis Anglte, aui the aerks in the
Regis nu7M5, cui idem nuper Rex — pro bono et laudabili ^'"^^^-s**! ^^<*«»
s^ruicio per ip^m Thomam eidem nuper Reci impenso to whom
et impendendo — xx [marcasj^ percipiendoa singt^lis was granted by
annis ad Scoccanwm suum durante vita sna, ad termi- ***"''^ ^•»~
nos Pasche et Sanc^i Michoelis, per equales porctowes,
per liteiBS suas patentee concessit ; quas quideTTi litersiS
I)ominus Kenricus nuper Rex Angltc, pater Regis, ac
idem Dominus Rex mmc, confirmauert^n^ : In denart;* in money paid
sibi liberatw per laamis propna«, in ^ersolucioTiem x °*
marcart^m sibi liberandarwm de hniusmodi certo suo, for hi»j year's
videU'cet, pro termino Sawc^i MichaeZis Yltimo pretenVo, inSls^itts,
per bret^e de liberate inter manda^a de hoc termino
vj li. xiij 8. iiij d. «6 18«. id.
There is nothing about Hoccleve in the Pells Issue
RoUs of Easter 4 Hen. VI, 1426 ; Michs. 6 Hen. VI,
1426 ; Easter 10 Hen. VI, 1432 ; Easter 16 Hen. VI,
* Omitted.
\xx Appendix. No Payment to Hocdeve in 1440.
1437 ; Easter 17 Hen. VI, 1439 ; Michaelmas 19 Hen.
VI, 1440; Easter 20 Hen. VI, 1442; Easter 25 Hen.
VI, 1447.
1440. In the Pells Issue Boll for Easter, 18 Hen.
VL, there is a payment to ''divers Clerks of the King's
Privy Seal," of the King's gift, as a reward for trans-
crihing the Agreements made with the Emperor — 5
marks. And another payment to "Thomas Frawnk,i
one of the Clerks, and Filacer in the office of the King's
Privy Seal"* But there is no reference to Hoccleve.
The foregoing notices were obtained firom the Patent
Eolls and the Exchequer EoUs only by dint of search-
ing through some hundreds of membranes — perhaps
about 1500. Few, if any, of them are referred to in
the meagre indexes.
1 OrFrank*.
' Was he the successor of Hoccleve ? He is also mentioned
in Easter 15 Hen. YI., Easter 17 Hen. VL, and Mich. 10
Hen. VI.
\<^ iH^a
7'
SOCCLEYE'S MINOE POEMS.
A.D. 1413—1446.
Phillipps MS. 8151 (fortnerly Prince Henry' s^ Son of Jame$ /).
leaf 3 : vellum, ab. 1450 a.d.
E!je Complegnte of tlje Uirgin before
tfje Cross.
(engliflht by command of Ladt Hkrbford.)
(In 6-measure sevens, ababb, ce.)
[The first leaf of the MS. and of this Compleynte (a 1) is lost.
The first 2 leavs of the Poem to * Oldcastel,' sign, a 7, 8, hav
been put befor the 2nd leaf of the Virgin Compleynte (sign, a
2), to prevent the MS. looking incomplete. Ther was thus at
least one rascaly bookseller in James Ts time.}
[7]
43
IT Womman, — fat among the peple speek*
How fat the wombe blessid was fat beer,
And the tetes fat yaf to sowken eek*
The sone of god / which on hy hangith heer, —
What seist thow now / why comest thow no neerl 47
Why nart thow heere ? / o womwan, where art thow,
That nat ne seest my wof ul wombe now 1
[8]
IF Simeon / thow seidest me ful sooth
* The strook* that perce shal my sones herte,
My soule thirle it shal ' / and so it dooth :
The wownde of deeth ne may I nat asterte,
Ther may no martirdom me make smerte
So sore as this martree smertith me :
So sholde he seyn / fat myn hurt migfite see.
HOCCLBVB, M.P. — I. B
49
50
54
56
[sign, a 2, leat S]
Woman {Luk^,
xi. 27) who sed
my Womb was
' blessed,' where
art thou now P
Simeon, the
sword that pierst
my Son's heart
{Luke, ii. 35)
pierces mine tool
, ^ ^ ¥ S d — - — w-Mac^d-^ — .
2 I. THB COMPLBYKTB OF THE VIROIN MART.
[9]
Father and ^ 0. loachim / deeifi fadir myn ! 67
Mother 'why did ' ^ *
ye breed me ? And seint Aiine, my modir deere also !
To what entente / or to what ende or fyn
Brogfiten yee me foorth / fat am greeued so 1
Mirthe is to me become a verray fo. 61
Your fadir Dauid / fat an harpowr was,
Conforted folk* fat stood in heuy cas. 63
[10]
Me thynkith yee nat doon to me arig&t, 64
pat were his successours / syn instrument
re cannot comfort Han yee noon left / wher-wit^ me make licfht,
me. ' ^
And me conforte, in my woful torment.
Me to doon ese / han yee no talent, 68
And knowen mjm conforteless distresse :
Yee oghten weepe for myn heuynesse. 70
[111
oson, ^0 blessid sone / on thee wole I out throwe 71
My salte teeres / for oonly on thee
My look is set / thynke / how many a throwe
think how I nurst Thow in mvn armes lay / and on my knee
andkUtTheel / '' ' ''
Thow sat / & haddist many a kus of me. 75
Eeek thee, to sowke, on my breestes yaf y,
Thee norisshyng* faire & tendrely. 77
[12]
Now Death takee Now thee fio me, withdrawith bittir death, 78
Thee from me I
And makith a wrongful disseuerance.
Thynke nat, sone / in me fat any breeth
Endure may / fat feele al this greuance ;
My martirdom me hath at the outrance ; 82
I needes sterue moot / syn I thee see
Shamely nakid, strecchid on a tree. 84
[13]
D«af ♦] And this me sleeth / fat in the open day 85
Thyn hertes wownde shewith him so wyde
\
o
I. THE OOMPLBTNTE OP THE VIRGIN MART.
\>ai alle folk see and beholde it may,
So largeliche opned is thy syde.
! wo is me, syn I nat may it hyde 1 -^ 89
And, among othre of my smerte greeues,
Thow put art also, sone, amonges theeues, 91
[14]
As thow were an euel & wikkid wight 92
And, lest fat somme folk* par auenture
No knowleche hadde of thy persone aright,
Thy name, Pilat hath put in scripture,
J5at knowe mighte it euery creature, 96
For thy pensmce sholde nat been hid.
/ wo is me / fat al this see betid ! 98
[16]
How may myn yen, fat beholde al this, 99
Restreyne hem for to shewe by weepynge
Myn hertes greef / moot I nat weepe ? ps !
Sone, if thow haddist a fadir lyuynge.
That wolde weepe & make waymentynge, 103
For fat he hadde paart of thy persone,
That were a greet abreggynge of my mone. 105
[16]
But thow in eerthe / fadir haddist neuere ; 106
N"o wight for thee / swich cause hath for to pleyne,
As fat haue I / shalt thow fro me disseuere,
J5at aart al heolly mjm 1 my sorwes deepe
Han al myn hertes ioie leid to sleepe. 110
No wight wt't/i me, in thee, my sone, hath part :
Hoolly of my blood' / deere chyld / thow art. 112
[17]
That doublith al my torment & my greef*. 113
Vn-to myn herte / it is confusion,
Thjm harm to see / fat art to me so leef*.
Mighte nat, sone / the Redempciown
1 ? MS. bleod.
B 2
And, alas I Thoa
art set among
thieves !
Thy name is
written up that
all folk may know
Thee.
Thou hast no
father living to
comfort me.
[leaf 4, back]
Earthly fittber,
thou never hadst.
Thou art \
my child.
rholly
I grieve to see
Thee hurt.
\ « /V-:} d ^l^rccfr
/ /tu^7er
But what Thou
wilt, be done I
Death, who hast
slain my Son,
slay ma I
[leaf 5]
Moon and
Stars,
weep with me i
\} But see Luk*
xxiii. 4S-5. &c.]
Darkness Arom the
6th to the 9th
hour.
Sun, why
leavest
thou my Son
uncoverd here?
Hide his naked-
ness !
He ia thy Lord.
I. THB OOMPLBTKTB OF THE VIRGIN HART.
Of man han bee withoute effusiot^n 117
Of thy blood 1 yis / if it had been thy lust.
But what thow mlt be doon / sou fire me must ! 119
[18]
deeth / so thow kythist thy bittimesse 120
First on my sone / & aftirward on me.
Bittir art thow / & ful of crabbidnesse,
That my sone hast slayn thurgfi thy crueltee,
And nat me sleest / certein, nat wole I flee. 124
Come of / come of / & slee me heere, as blyue !
Departe from him / wole I nat a lyue I 126
[19]
IT moone / o sterres / and thow firmament ! 127
How may yee, fro wepynge yow restreyne,
And seen your Creatour in swich torment)
Yee ogfiten troublid been in euery veyne,
And his despitous deeth / with me compleyne. 131
Weepeth & crieth as lowde as yee may,
Our Creatour wit/i wrong is slayn this day. 133
[20]
IT Sonne, with thy cleere hemes brighte,* 134
))at seest my child nakid this nones tyde.
Why souffrest thow him, in the open sig&te
Of the folk* heere / vnkeuered abyde 1
Thou art as moche, or more, holde hiwt to hyde, 138-
Than Sem, fat helid his Fadir Noe
Whan he espyde fat nakid was he. 140
[21]
If thow his sone be / do lyk ther-to ! 141
Come of / withdrawe thy hemes brightnesse !
Thow art to blame / but if thow so do.
For shame / hyde my sones nakidnesse !
Is ther in thee no sparcle of kyndenesse 1 145
Bemembre he is thy lord and Creatour !
Now keuere him / for thy worsship & honour ! 147
l^i^^^^^^r^-S-^^tr,'^^^
I. THE OOMPLBTNTB OF THE VIROIN MART.
[22]
IF eerthe / what lust hast thow to susteene
The crois on which he fat thee made, and it,
Is hangid 1 / and aourned thee with greene
Which fat thow werist / how hast thow thee qwit
Vn-to thy lord 1 / o do this for him yit 1
! wake for doel / & cleue thow in two,
And al fat blood / restore me vn-to,
[23]
Which thow hast dronke / it myn is, & not thyn;
Or elles thus / withouten taryynge
Tho bodyes dede / whiche in thee fat lyn,
Caste out / for they, by taast of swich dewynge,
Hem oghte clothe ageyn in hir clothynge.
Thow Caluarie / thow art namely
Holden for to do so / to thee speke Y.
[24]
deere sone / myn deeth neighith faste,
Syn to an othir / thow hast youen me
Than vn-to thee / & how may my lyf laste,
Jpat me yeuest any othir than thee ]
Thogh he / whom thow me yeuest / maiden be,
And thogh by iust balance / thow weye al,
The weighte of him & thee / nat is egal.
[25]
He a disciple is / <^ thow art a Lord ;
Thow al away art gretter than he is ;
Betwixt your mightes / is ther greet discord.
My wof ul torment / doublid is by this ;
1 needes mourne moot / & fare amis ;
It seemeth fat thow makist departynge
Twixt thee & me for ay / wit/ioute endynge ;
[26]
And namely / syn thow me * wowiraan ' callist.
As I to thee straunge were and vnknowe ;
Therthurgh, my sone / thow my ioie appallist ;
148 [leafs, back]
Earth, cleave
152
in two, and re-
- _ store my Son't
1D4: blood!
156
159
161
162
166
168
169
or cast out thy
dead!
Calrary, do tliis I
How can I live P
[leaf 6]
Thoa seemest to
•ymn have severd me
A 7 O from Thee for
ever.
175
176 Thou ralledst me
« Woman 1 '
? '^//3/ . "^Ni^l
My name is
chanj^ed !
I am Mara
(bitter) j
my sweetness is
tamd to gall t
[leaf 6, book]
John, how
can we avoid
death?
So full of woe are
we.
lei us die I
Angels, your
Creator is slain !
187
189
I. THB GOMFLBTNTB OF THE VIRGIN MART.
Wei feele I fat deeth his vengeable bowe
Hath bent / & me purposith doun to throwe. 180
Of sorwe talke may I nat ynow,
Syn fro^ my name / I-doon away is now. 182
[27]
Wei may men clepe and calle me ' Mara M 183
From hennes forward, so may men me caH.
How sholde I lenger^ clept be * Maria ',
Syn * I ', which is Ihe^s, is fro me fall
This day / al my swetnesse is in-to gatt
Tomed, syn fat * I ', which was the beautee
Of my name / this day bynome is me.
[28]
U lohn, my deere freend ! thow haast receyued 190
A woful modir / and an heny sone
Haue I of thee / deeth hath myn othir weyued !
How may we two, the deeth eschne or shone %
We drery wightes two / wher may we wonel 194
Thou art of confort / destitut / I see ;
And so am I / ful careful been wee ! 196
[29]
Vn-to oure hertes / deeth hath sent his wownde : 197
Noon of vs may alleggen othres peyne.
So manye sorwes in vs two habownde.
We ban no might, fro sorwe vs restreyne j
I see non othir / die moot we tweyne ;
Now let vs steruen heer par compaignie !
Sterue thow there / & heere wole I die.
[30]
H Angels / thogh yee mourne and waile & weepe^, 204
Yee do no wrong / slayn is your Greatour
By the folk* fat yee weren wont to keepe
And gye & lede / they to dethes shour
Han put him / thogh yee ban wo & langour, 208
1 ? * me' left out, for want of power to work it in.
2 Cp. Chaucer's *wrynge & waile & weepe,' Clerk's Envoy.
Card, Tales,
201
203
I. THE OOMtLBTNTB OP THE VIRGIN HART.
No wondir is it / who may blame yowl
And yit ful cheer he had hem pat him slow. 210
[31]
HO/ special loue / pat me ioyned haast 211
Vn-to my sone / strong is thy knyttynge !
This day ther-in fynde I a bittir taast ;
For now the taast I feele, & the streynyiige
Of deeth / by thy deeth / feele I deeth me stynge. 216
poore raodir / what shalt thow now seye 1
Poore Marie / thy wit is aweye ! 217
[32]
Marie 1 nay / but * marred ' I thee caH. 218
So may I wel / for thow art / wel I woot,
Vessel of care & wo, & sorwes all !
Now thow art frosty cold / now fyry hoot ;
And right as pat a ship, or barge, or boot, 222
Among the wawes dryueth steerelees,
So doost thow, woful womman, confortlees ! 224
[33]
And of modir / haast thow eek« lost the style : 226
No more maist thow clept be by thy name I
IT sones of Adam / al to long whyle
Yee tarien hens / hieth hidir for shame I
See how my sone / for yowr gilt & blame, 229
Hangith heer al bybled vp on the crois !
Bymeneth him in herte & cheere & vois 1 231
[34]
His blody stremes, see now & beholde !
If yee to him han any affeccionn,
Now for his wo / your hertes oghten colde.
Shewith your loue and your dileccioun ;
For your gilt makith he correccioun 236
And amendes / right by his owne deeth :
J)at yee nat reewe on him, myn herte it sleeth. 238
[35]
A modir pat so soone / hir cote taar 239
Or rente / sy men neuere noon or this.
[leaf 7]
OLore,
now I feel Death's
sting !
I am not Mary,
but 'marred,'
areMelof woe!
Mother am I, no
more.
Sons of Adam,
see my Son bleed-
ing on the Cross I
232 [leaf?, back]
Show your love!
8 II. TO SIR JOHN OLDCASTLB. A.D. 1415.
For chyld / which fat shee of hir body baar,
To yeue her tete f as my chyld, fat heere is,
His cote hath torn / for your gilt, nat for his, 243
tton^He^h^mi ^^ ^^*^ ^^® ^\^o^ despent in greet foysoun ;
blood. And al it was for your Kedempcioun. 245
IF Cest tout.
Ceste Compleynte paramont feut translatee au
cowmandement de ma dame de Hereford,
que dieu pardoynt !
mft^^v^^ To Cegte feust iaitSz au tempa ^ue le '^oy
CO?N^ - ^^- V %enri le F, (qw^ ©ieu pariioint!)
f CJ3-^^xil^ ^^^^'^^^ NN^-^ fe^gt E ?^ampton sur gon primer
^^:<!4.K<^^c!^ passafle berg ?^arflete.
(In 5-measure eights, ahah^ cdcd.)
[1]
[sign, a 7. leaf 1 J fTlHe laddre of heuene / I meene charitee,
-■- Comandith vs / if our brothir be falle
In to errour / to haue of him pitee.
And seeke weyes, in our wittes alle, 4
How we may him ageyn to vertu calle ;
And in gretter errowr ne knowe I noon
oidcastie! thoa Than thow, fat dronke haast^ heresies galle,
fiiith! And art fro Crystes feith twynned & goon. 8
[2]
Alias ! fat thow fat were a manly knyght,
And shoon ful cleer in famous worthynesse,
Standynge in the fauowr of euery wight,
Haast lost the style of cristenly prowesse 1 2
1 The aa in * haast,* 1. 7, and *aart, paart,' 1. 150, 152,
* occurs elsewhere. The Latin side-notes, below, are in the MSr
II. TO SIR JOHN 0LD0A8TLB. A.D. 1415.
Among alle hem / \ai stande in the cleernesse
Of good byleeue / & no man vriih thee holdith,
Sauf cuTsid caitifs, heires of dirknesse :
For verray routhe of thee / myn herte coldith. 16
[3]'
Thow haast maad a fair p^rmutacion
Fro Crystes lore* to feendly doctryne;
From honour & fro dominacion
Vn-to repreef and mescheuons v[e]nyne ; 20
Fro cristen folk* / to hethenly couyne ;
Fro seuretee vn-to ynsikimesse ;
Fro ioie and ese / vn-to wo & pyne,
Fro ligbt of trouthe / vn-to dirke falsnesse. 24
[4]
Oldcastel / alias / what eilid thee
To slippe in to the snare of heresie 1
Thurgh which / thow foo arte to the Trinitee,
And to the blissid virgyne Marie, 28
And to the Innumerable holy compaignie
Of heuene / and to al holy chirche. alias !
To longe haast thow bathid in Jjat folie 1
Eyse vp / & pourge thee of thy trespas 1
[5]
Seynt Austyn seith / * whiles a man abydith
In heresie or scisme / and list nat liee
Ther fro / his soule / fro God he diuidith,
And may nat saued been in no degree.
For what man holdith nat the vnitee
Of holy Chirche / neithir his bapteeme,
Ne his almesse / how large fat it be,
To helthe him profyte / ne god qweeme.'
[6]
And yit more-ouer he seith thus also,
* Thogh fat an heretyk*, for Crystes name
Shede his blood / <fe his lyf for Cryst forgo,
Shall nat him saue ' / allas^ the harm & shame 1 44
36
40
No one holds with
thee, bat cursed
caitlfti
Thoa halt left the
liRhtofTnithfor
darkness !
[sign, a 7, leaf 1,
bade]
Thoa art God's
foe I
^^ Purge thee of thy
OA trespass I
CMS.]
KngMtinui de
fide, ad Petrum :
' Finnissime tene,
k nullateniM
dabites, quemlibet
hereticam Ac. qal
ecc^ie cathoUce
no» tenet vnlta-
tem, neqiM baptis-
mus / neqtce ele-
mosina quantnm-
cumqN0 copiosa /
neqiM mors pro
ChrUti nomioe
suscepta, proflc«re
pot«rit ad
salutem.'
^ /V 3 J
TvOaajJI^
I
10
Oldcastlel obey
tlie Chureb t
[MS.]
De Theodosy
illostris Imp«ra-
tori« obedienciali
bumilitate / re-
spice in bistoHa
tripartite, lifrro
1x0, vbi narrat,
' Cum apud Tbeso-
lonicam Ciuite'
tem/ Ac.
Tboa liMt sold
tliy soal to the
Devil.
Quench thy
pride !
Repent I
[sign, a 8, or leaf
2, bade]
1
[1 MS. m]
Ask God mercy I
II. TO SIR JOHN 0LD0A8TLE. A.D. 1415.
May nat thy sinert thiy sturdy herte attame 1
Obeie / obeie / in the name of Jhesu !
Thou art of merit h of honur lame ;
Conquere hem two / & thee arme in virtu !
[7]
If thyn hy herte, bohiynge in errour,
To holy chirche can nat buxum be 1
Beholde Theodosius Emperour,
How humble & buxum vn-to god was he !
No reward tooke he of his dignitee,
But, as a lamb, to holy chirche obeide :
In the scripture / may men rede & se
How meekly of the Bisshop, grace he preide.
[8]
Thoffense which fat he ageyn god wroghte,
Was nat so greet as thyn / by many fold ;
And yit ful heuy he was, & it forthoghte,
Obeyyng* as fat holy chirche hath wold.
Thow fat thy soule / to the feend haast sold,
Bye it agayn thurgh thyn obedience !
Thyn heresie is al to hoor and old ;
Correcte thee at Crystes reucrence !
[9]
And for thy soules helthe / dd eeke so !
Thy pryde qwenche, & thy presumpciown I
Wher thow hast been to Crystes feith a fo,
Plante in thyn herte a deep contriciown,
And hennes foorth be Crystes Champiown !
The welle of mercy rermeth al in brede ;
Drynke ther-of / syn ther is swich foysoim,
Thyn hertes hotel / ther^-of fill^, I rede.
[10]
Thow haast oflTendid god wondirly sore ;
And nathelees / if thow the wilt amende,
Thogh thy gilt wer* a thowsand^ tymes more,
Axe him mercy / & he wole it thee sende.
48
52
56
60
64
68
72
76
dU^^^^U^ (iL. -yf)
II. TO SIR JOHN OLDOASTLB. A.D. 1416.
Thow art vnwys / thogfi thow thee wys pretende, .
And so been alle of thyn opinioun.
To god & holy chirche thow thee bende !
Caste out thy venym thurgh confessioun ! 80
[11]
Thow seist * confessiown auriculeer
Ther needith noon ' / but it is the contrarie ;
Thow lookist mis / thy sighte is nothyng cleer !
Holy writ ther-in is thyn Aduersarie,
And Clerkes alle fro thy conceit varie,
Jjat Crystes partie holden & maynteene.
Leue fat conceit / lest fat thow mis-carie !
Wa^r of the swerd of god / for it is keene. 88
[12]
Heere, in this lyf / vn-to god mercy crie,
And with the ax or hamer of* penance
Smyte on the stoon / slee thyn obstinacie •
Haue of thy synnes heuy rjBmemb ranee ! 92
Rowne in the preestes ere / & the greuance
Of thy soule / meekly to him confesse ;
And in the wal of heuene / is no doutance,
Thow shalt a qwike stoon be / for thy goodnesse. 96
[13]
*0 Oldcastel / how hath the feend thee blent !
Where is thy knyghtly herte / art thow his thral 1
Thow errest foule eeke in the sacrament
Of the Auter / but how in special 100
For to declare* it needith iiat at al ;
It knowen is in many a Eegioun.
Now syn the feend hath youen the a f al /
Qwyte him / let see / ryse vp & slynge him doun ! 104
[14]
Ryse vp, a manly knygfit, out of the slow
Of heresie / o lurker* / as a wrecche
Wher^ as thow erred haast / correcte it now I
By humblesse / thow mayst to mercy strecche. 108
11
B«nd thee to Holy
Church !
Thou ofctJeeteHt to
Confession.
[MS.]
84 Scriptum e«^ /
* Ostendite vos
sac«rdotibu«.'
Leave that con-
oeiti
[MS.]
Augtff^jniM de
visitatione infirm-
orum dictt. ' In
muro Ciuitattf
supeme apponen-
dtM es lapis viuus,
in cuius ediflcio
no» auditur
securift aut mal-
letM. hie p«rfer-
endus est strepi-
ttM / hio adici-
endus est lapidi
malleus / hie con-
t«rendttm e«£
totum lapidis
sup«ruaouuni /
BtrepittM pecca-
torum tuortim re-
cordatio super
quibiM p«rstrepat
in aure sacerdotM
humiliima tua
confessio, &c.'
[• sign. B 1, or
leaf 8]
Rise up, and sling
the Devil down !
Rise out of the
slough of Heresy t
12
Get abtoltttion
from Holy
Church!
Thoa reftuest to
ob«7 PreUtM.
[sign. b. 1 ; If. 8»
back]
Ck)nfeM and
repent of tliy
errors!
If a Priest is
vicioos,
follow him not,
but obey his
teaching.
Stir no arguments
about our Faith I
II. TO SIR JOHN 0LDCA8TLE. A.D. 1415.
To holy chirche go / & ther* fecche
The holsum oyle of absolucion.
If thow of soules hurt ne shame recche,
Thow leesist heuene / and al knyglltly renoun. 112
[15]
Par cas / thow to thy self shame it arettist,
Vn-to Prelatz of holy chirche obeie :
If it so be / thy conceit thow mis settist.
What man aright can / in his herte weye 116
The trouthe of that f To Ihe«u Cryst, I seye,
Principally / is \ai obedience.
God hath ordeyned preestes to purveye
Salue of penance / for mannes offense. 120
[16]
Vnto seint Petir and his successours,
And so foorth doun / god hath his power lent.
Go to the Preest / correcte thyn errours,
With herte contryt vn-to god y-bent ! 124
Despute no more of the sacrament !
As holy chirche biddith, folwe it I
And hennes forward / as by myn assent,
Presume nat so mochil of thy wit ! 128
[17]
I putte cas, a prelat or a preest
Him viciously goucjue in his lyuynge /
Thow oghtist reewe on it / whan thow it seest,
And folwe hiw nat / but aftir his techynge 132
Thow oghtest do / & for thyn obeyynge
Thow shalt be sauf / & if he teche amis,
Toforn god shal he yeue a rekenynge,
And fat a streit / the greet peril is his. 136
[18]
Lete holy chirche medle of the doctryne
Of Crystes lawes / & of his byleeue,
And lete alle othir folke / ther-to enclyne,
And of our feith noon argumentes meeue. 140
II. TO SIR JOHN OLDOASTLB. A.D. 1416.
13
For if we mighte our feith by reson preeue,
We sholde no meryt of our feith haue.
But now a dayes / a Baillif or Eeeue
Or man of craft / wole in it dote or raue. 144
[19]
Some womwen eeke, tliogfi hir wit be thynne,
Wele argumentes make in holy writ !
Lewde calates ! sittith down and spynne,
And kakele of sum what elles, for your wit 148
Is al to feeble to despute of it !
To Clerkes grete / apparteneth J)at aart
The knowleche of fat, god hath fro yow shit ;
Stynte and leue of / for right sclendre is yowr paart. 152
[20]
Oure fadres olde & modres lyued wel,
And taghte hir children / as hem self taght were
Of holy chirche / & axid nat a del
* Why stant this word heerc 1 ' / and * why this word
there r 156
* Why spake god thus / and seith thus elles where 1 '
* Why dide he this wyse / and mighte han do thus 1 '
Our fadres medled no thyng of swich gere :
pat oghte been a good mirour to vs. 160
[21]
If land to thee be falle of heritage,
Which fat thy fadir heeld in reste & pees,
With title iust & trewe in al his age,
And his fadir before him brygelees, 164
And his and his / & so foorth / douteleea
I am ful seur / who so wolde it thee reue,
Thow woldest thee defifende & putte in prees ;
Thy right thow woldest nat, thy thankes, leue. 168
[22]
Right so / where as our goode fadres olde
Possessid were, & hadden the seisyne
Peisible / of Crystes feith, & no man wolde
[MS.]
Fldet non haltet
meritam, &c.
[sign, b 2. If. 9]
Women even
argue now about
Holy Writ I Let
em cackle of
something elee I
Our fore&tlien
never askt quee-
tioni.
No more ought
we.
If you inherited
land
you'd defend it
against robbers.
[sign, b 2, If. 9,
baek]
So our fathers
held Chritt's
faith.
O . fYS'
■fn^f^
14
Let us then keep
their poeaession
with all oar
might!
He who'll not
defend his rights
is a coward t
[MS.]
Lege Nemo.
'NemoCi«rica8
vel militari«, vel
cuitMlibet alt«riu8
eondicionis de fide
cATM^ana pu&2ice
turbis coadunati*
& audientibiM
traotar« conettM*
in po8t«rum ex
hoc tumalttM &
p«rfldie occasi-
onem requirens
&c. k ibi exprra-
sattfr pena in-
huiosmodi caa«i«
exequendlt.'
Peaf 10]
Oldcastle, don't
read Holy Writ !
Bead Lanctlot^ or
the Si90« of Troy;
or Judo*$ and
Joshua :
n. TO SIR JOHN OLDOASTLE. A.D. 1416.
Impugne hir rig£t f it sit vs to enclyne 172
Ther-to / let us no ferthere ymagyne
But as fat they dide ! occupie our right ;
And in oure hertes fully determyne
Our title good / & keepe it with our might. 176
[23]
Who so hath right / and nat wole it deffende ;
It is no manhode / it is cowardyse :
And as in this cas / he shal god ofifende
So greuously / fat he shal nat soiiffyse, 180
The maugree, for to here in no wyse
Fro Cryst J?at right first greew / & if pat we
Nat shuln susteene it / we been ful vnwyse :
Him self is feith / right / troutho, & al bontee. 184
[24]
The Cristen Emperour Justinian,
As it is writen / who so list it see,
Made a la we deffending* euery man,
Of what condicion or what degree 188
j)at he were of / nat sholde hardy be
For to despute of the feith openly ;
And there vp on / sundry peynes sette he,
Jjat peril sholde eschued be therby. 192
[25]
Bewar Oldcastel / & for Crystes sake
Glymbe no more / in holy writ so hie !
Rede the storie of Lancelot de lake,
Or Vegece of the aart of Chiualrie, 196
The seege of Troie / or Thebes / thee applie
To thynge fat may to thordre of knyght longe !
To thy correccioMU / now haaste and hie,
For thow haast been out of ioynt al to longe. 200
[26]
If thee list thyng rede of auctoritee,
To thise stories sit it thee to goon :
To ludicam / Regum, and losue.
11. TO SIR JOHN OLDOASTLB. A.D. 1416.
204
15
To Judith / & to Paralipomenon,
And Machabe / & as siker as stoon,
If \at thee list in hem bayte thyn ye,
Mote autentike thing / shalt thow fynde noon,
Ne more pertinent to Chiualrie. 208
[27]
Knyghtes so dide in tymes fat be past,
Whan they had tendrenesse of hii^ office ;
In Crystes feith they stooden stidefast ;
And as J?at the preest, hir soules Korice, 212
Hem goostly fedde / <fe yaf hem the notice
Of Crystes lore f with obedience
They tooke it / but now regneth swich malice,
That buxumnesse is put in abstinence. 216
[28]
Constantyn, thow Prince of hy nobleye /
cristen Emperour / whos worthynesse
Desdeyned nat to holy chirche obeye.
But didest al thy peyne & bisynesse, 220
With wel disposid spirit of meeknesse,
The Ministres of god for to honure ;
How thow wroghtist / hast thow so strong witnesse,
That lyue it shal / whil the world wole endure ! 224
[29]
Thow took nat on thee hir correctioz^n,
Ne vp on hem / thow yaf no iugement !
Swich was to god thy good afifecciown,
Thow seidest / * they been goddes to vs sent I 228
And fat it is nothyng conuenient,
That a man sholde goddes iuge and deeme.'
Thow were a noble & a worthy Regent !
Wel was byset on thee / thy diadeeme ! 232
[30]
Blessid be god / fro whom deryued is
Al grace / our lige lord / which fat is now
Our feithful cristen Prince and King / in this
these pertain to
Chivalry.
Knights of old
obeyd the Priest.
Novr, obedience is
set aside.
[If. 10 bk.]
The Emperor
Constantine obeyd
Holy Cliurch.
[MS.]
Be admirabili
honore qaem
Constantinus Im-
perator exhibuit
eccfotie Ministris
ita Boribitur /
' Dens Tos eonstl-
tuit sactfrdotes, &
potestatem dedit
Tob<« iadieandi, &
\deo nos a vob<«
iudicamur; vos
autem non pote8t{.f
ab hominibiM
iudicari/ &c.
Our Henry V
follows his steps.
^ »^y Sig
{^''//jT)
16
Oldcastle! Follow
these Princes !
[I odd, this! If he
'does it no longer/
why should he be
scolded? ? Read
* that* tor 'tkogh*
In 888.]
[leaf 11]
Bow and correct
thyself!
Return to God I
Leave thy mis-
belief 1
Debate not against
Qod!
[leaf 11. back]
Lord of all!
Inspire Oldcastle
with Thy grace !
n. TO SIR JOHN OLDOASTLE. A.D. 1415.
Folwith thy steppes / o' for shame thow 236
Oldcastel / thow haast longe tyme ynow
Folwed the feend / thog^ thow no lenger do,^
Do by my reed / it shal be for thy prow :
Flee fro the Feend / folwe tho Princes two ! 240
[31]
Reward had, & consideracioun,
Vn-to the dignitees of tho pcrsones,
Thow art of a scars reputacioun !
A fro ward herte / haast thow for the nones ! 244
Bowe & correcte thoe / come of at ones I
Foule haast thow lost thy tyme many a day !
For thyn vnfeith / men maken many mones ;
To god retowme / <fe with his feith dwelle ay ! 248
[32]
Thogh god the haue souffrid regne a whyle,
Be nat to bold / be war of his vengeance I
He tarieth* for thow sholdist reconsyle
Thee to him / & leue thy mescreaunce. 252
Holsum to thee / now were a variaunce
Fro the feend to our lord god / & fro vice
Vn-to vertu, fat were his by plesaunce,
And his modres, man-kyndes mediatrice. 256
[33]
Some of thy fetheres weren plukkid late,
And mo shuln be / thow shalt it nat asterte ;
Thow art nat wys / ageyne god to debate !
The flood of pryde / caste out of thyn herte ! 260
Grace is a-lyue / to god thee conuerte !
Thow maist been his / if thee list him obeie ;
If thow nat wilt so / sorrer shalt thow smerte.
Than herte of man may thynke, or tonge seye ! 264
[34]
Almighty god / thow lord of al, and Syre,
Wi thou ten whom is no goodnesse wroght,
This knyght, of thyn habundant grace enspyre I
^^^i:aj\ , Uf^iKe
\ Vcy^AAolcLTi
TO SIR JOHN OLDOASTLB. A.D. 1415.
17
Remembre how deere / |)at thow haast him boght ! 268
He is thyn handwerke / lord ! refuse him noght,
Thogh he thee haue agilt outrageously /
Thow fat for mercy deidest, change his thoght I
Beuigue lord, enable hiw to mercy I 272
[35]
Yee fat peruerted him / yee folke dampnable !
Yee heretikes fat han him betrayed,
That manly was / worthy & honurable,
Or fat he hadde of your venym assayed, 276
I doute it nat / your wages shal be payed
Sharply / but yee correcte your trespas,
In your fals errowr / shul yee been outrayed,
And been enhabited with Sathanas.
[36]
Yee, with your sly coloured argumentes
Which fat contenen nothyng but falshode,
Han, in this Knyght, put so feendly ententes,
Jjat he is ouercharged with the lode 284
Which yee han leid on his good old knygthode,
That now * a wrecchid knyght ' men calle may.
The lak* of feith / hath qwenchid his manhode ;
His force ageyn god / naght is at assay. 288
[37]
* Pryiice of preestes * / our lige lord yee calle
In scorn / but it is a style of honour :
Auctoritee of Freest excedith alle
Eerthely powers / thogfi it seeme sour 292
To the taast of your detestable errour.
They fat in the feith been constaunt & sad,
In seint Petres wordes han good fauour,
And fayn been to fuUfilk fat he bad. 296
[38]
Alle eerthely Princes and othir men,
Bysshops to obeie / commandid he.
Yee han no ground to holde ther ayen :
He is thy handi-
work.
Fit him for
mercy !
Ye Heretics that
misled this
Knight,
yeshaligoto
280 HeUI
Te have quencht
his manhood.
Deaf 12]
Ye call the King
* Prince of
Pri^Bts.'
But Priests are
abuv him.
Earthly Prinoes
must obey
Bishops.
H0CX3LBVB, M.P. — ^I.
C
O ' h!^)
18
n. TO SIR JOHH OLDOASTLB. A.D. 1415.
Spiritual things
Mr abuv temporal.
The Sun and
Moon
betoken Papal
authority, and
Kingly.
[leaf 12. back]
As Sun to Moon,
10 is Pope to
King.
Ifye'llnotbe-
liev it, I hope ye
may be burnt I
Te eay ' a sinfiil
prieot can't make
Chritt's body.'
He can.
Spirituel ihynges / passe in dignitee
Alle the thynges temporel ]>at be,
As moche as dooth the soule the body.
In the scriptures, serche / & yee shul see
\>ai it no lees at al is hardily.
[39]
Two lighies, god made in the firmament
Of heuene / a more made he, & a lesse ;
The gretter light, to the day liath he lent,
It for to serue in his cleer brightnesse;
The smaller, to the nyght in soot^fastnesse
He lente also / to helpe it with his light.
Two dignitees they toknen in liknesse :
Auctoritee papal, and kynges might.
[40]
Looke, how moche & how greet dyuersitee
Betwixt the sonne ther is, & the moone *.
So moche is a popes auctoritee
Aboue a kynge'j might / good is to doone
Jjat yee aryse out of your errowr soone,
))at there-in walwid han / goon is f ul yore.
And but yee do / god, I byseeche a boone,
]>ai in the fyr yee f eele may the sore !
[41]
Yee fat nat sette by preestes power,
* Crystes Kebels, & foos ' men may you calle.
Yee waden in presumpciown to fer !
Your soules to the feend, yee foule thralls !
Yee seyn, * a preest in deedly synne falle,
If he 80 go to messe / he may nat make
Cry:»tes body ' / falsly yee erren alle,
)>at holden so / to deepe yee rantake !
[42]
As wel may a preest fat is vicious,
]>ai precious body make, day by day,
As may a preest / jwit is f ul vertuous >
300
304
308
312
316
320
324
328
II. TO SIR JOHN OLDCASTLE. A.D. 1415.
19
But waar the preest / his soule it burte may,
And shal, but he be cleene : it is no nay.
Be what he be / the preest is instrument
Of god / thurgh whos wordes / trustith this ay,
The preest makith the blessid sacrament.
[43]
Y*ee medle of al thyng / yee moot shoo the goos :
How knowen yee what lyf a man is ynne 1
Your fals conceites renne aboute loos !
If a preest synful be, & fro god twynne,
Thurgh penitence he may ageyn god wynne.
No wight may cleerly knowen it or gesse,
]>ai any preest, beynge in deedly synne,
For awe of god, dar to the messe him dresse.
[44]
Yee seyn also * ther sholde be no pope,
But he the beste preest were vp-on lyue.'
! wber-to graspen yee so fer, and grope
Aftir swich thyng / yee mowe it neuere dryne
To the knowleche / nothyng there-of stryue !
Medle nat ther with / let al swich thyng passe I
For if fat yee do / shul yee neucre thr3rue ;
Yee been ther-in as lewde as is an asse !
[45]
Many man outward / seemeth wondir good,
And inward is he wondir fer ther-fro :
No man be luge of fat / but he be wood :
To god longith J?at knowleche, & no mo.
Thogh he be right synful / sooth is also,
The hy power fat is to him committid.
As large as petres is / it is right so :
Amonges feithful folk* / this is admittid.
[46]
What is the lawe the werse of nature,
K fat a luge vse it nat aright ]
No thyng / god wot / auyse hiw fat the cure
2
332
Tlie Priest is only
an instrument to
make tlie Body.
336
Hear IS]
340
344
Besides, no one
can Icnow tliat
a Priest in sin
dare perform
Moss.
Ye say tliat • only
the beet Priest
should be Pope.'
348
352
Ye are asses t
«55u God alone can
Judge what a man
is.
The Pope's power
OOU Peter's.
[If. 18, bk]
20
II. TO SIR JOHN 0LDCA8TLB. A.D. 1415.
Put your fidne
opinions to flight!
Te live in lust,
and cure not
wliose wife ye
take.
CliriHt's disciples
faced death boldly.
Ye liide in corners.
[leafU]
Tliey never rioted
as ye did of late.
(at tlie Rising in
St. Giles's Fields,
in Jan. 1414.)
You otject to
Pilgrimages and
Images.
Ther-of hath take / looke he do but right ; 364
Waar / pat he nat stonde in his owne light I
Good is, ])at he his soule keepe & saue.
Your fals conceites, puttith to the flight,
I rede / and Crystes mercy, axe & haue ! 368
[47]
Yee J)at pretenden folwers for to be
Of Crystes disciples / nat lyue sholde
Aftir the flesshly lustes / as doon yee
\>at rekken nat / whos wyf yee take & holde : 372
Swich lyf / the disciples nat lyue wolde,
For cursid is the synne of aduoutrie ;
But yee ther-in, so hardy been & bolde,
pat yee no synne it holden, ne folic. 376
[48]
If yee so holy been as yee witnesse
Of your self f thanne in Crystes feith abyde I
The disciples of Cryst had hardy nesse
For to appeere / they nat wolde hem hyde 380
For fere of deeth / but in his cause dyde.
They fledden nat to halkes ne to hemes,
As yee doon / fat holden the feendes syde,
Whiche am of dirknesse the lanternes. 384
[49]
Ne neuere they in forcible maneere
With wepnes roos / to slee folk, & assaille.
As yee diden late in this contree heere,
Ageyn the King, stryf to rere, & batailk. 388
Blessid be god / of your purpos yee faille,
And faille shuln / yee shuln nat foorth ther with !
Yee broken meynee / yee wrecchid rascaille
Been al to weyke / yee han ther-to no pith I 392
[50]
Also yee holden ageyn pilgrimages,
Whiche am f ul goode / if fat folk wel hem vse ;
And eeke ageyns the makynge of ymages.
;i4c,^j^^
"TW-^AJC^^A^
II. TO SIR JOHN OLDOASTLC A.D. 1415.
What / al is nat worth fat yee clappe & muse. 396
How can yee, by reson, your self excuse
\)ai yee nat eiTen / whan yee folk* excite
To vice / and stire hem, vertu to refuse 1
Waar goddes strook* / it peisith nat a lyte. 400
[51]
For to visite seintes / is vertu,
If fat it doon be for deuocioun ;
And elles / good is, be ther-of eschu.
Meede wirkith in good entencioun. 404
Be cleene of lyf / <fe be in orisoun !
Of pynne, talke nat in thy viage !
Let vertu gyde thee / fro toun to toun !
And so to man / profitith pilgrimage. 408
[52]
And to holde ageyn y mages makynge,
(Be they maad in entaille or in peynture,)
Is greet errowr / for they yeuen stirynge
Of thoghtes goode / and causen men honure 412
The seint / after whom / maad is that figure,
And nat worsshippe it / how gay it be wroght.
For this knowith wel euery creature
j)at reson hath / fat a seint is it noght. 416
[53]
Right as a spectacle helpith feeble sighte,
Whan a man on the book* redith or writ,
And causith him to see bet than he mighte,
In which spectacle / his sighte nat abit, 420
But gooth thurgh / & on the book restith it f
The same may men of ymages seye,
Thogh the ymage nat the seint be / yit
The sighte vs myngith to the seint to preye. 424
[54]
Ageyn possessions / yee holden eeke,
Of holy chirche / & that is eeke errowr :
Your inward ye / is ful of smoke & reeke !
21
Ye excite folk to
▼ice.
Viiiiting Shrines
is maritorious.
if ye behave well.
Df. U, bk.]
Images stir up
good thouglits,
and make men
honour Saints,
not worsliip tliem.
Images help us to
pray, as Spectacles
help us to read.
Te otject to tiie
Church holding
property.
'/ ''O -
22
But Christ, while
on earth, had
Purse*.
Deaf 15]
What riKht have
3'e to take from
the Church what
ye never gave ?
Why should the
Church be spoild ?
Ye say * Property
ought to be com-
mon.
But it oughtn't to
be made so by
violence.
Of. 16, bk.]
Ye only want to
plunder.
II. TO SIR JOHN 0LDCA8TLE. A.D. 1416.
While heew on eerthe / was our Sauueoin*, 428
Whom Angels diden se^niice & honowr,
Purses had he / why f for his chirche sholde
So haue eek* aftir / as seith mine Auctowr :
Yee goon al mis / al is wrong / fat yea holde ! 432
[65]
lustinian Empf?*our had swich cheertee
To holy chirche / as fat seith the scripture,
J5at of goodes how large or greet plentee
It hadde of yif te of any creature f 436
Him thoghte it youe in the best mesure
]>ai mighte been / his herte it loued so.
Yee neue7'e yaf hem good, ^er auenture :
What title han yee / aght for to take he7» fro 1 440
[56]
And if yee had aght youe hem or this tyme,
Standynge in the feith / as yee oghten stonde,
Sholden they now / for yoMr change & yowr crynie,
Despoillid been of fat they haue in hondef 444
Nay / fat no skile is / yee shul vndirstonde.
They nygfit and day labouren in prayeere
For hew that so yaf / styntith, and not fonde
To do so f for first boght wole it be deere. 448
[57]
Presumpcion of wit, and ydilnesse.
And couetyse of good / tho vices three
Been cause of al your ydil bysynesse.
IF Yee seyn eeke : * goodes, commune oghten be :' 452
])rxi ment is, in tyme of necessitee,
But nat by violence or by maistrie.
My good to take of me / or 1 of thee.
For fat is verray wrong & robberie. 456
[58]
If fat a man the soothe telle shal,
How fat your hertes in this cas been set,
For to ryfle, is yowr entente final ;
But Ood and th«
King liav stopt
you.
Fight when you
will, we shall beat
you.
ir. TO SIR JOHN 0LDCA8TLE. A.D. 141*.
Yee han be bisy longe / aboute a net, 460
And fayn wolde han it in the watir wet,
The fissH to take / which yee han purposid.
But god and our lord lige hath vow let !
It nis, ne shal been / as yee han supposid. 464
[59]
Men seyn *yee purpose hastily appeere,
The worm for to sleen in the pesecod : '
Come on / whan yow list / yee shul reewe it deere !
The feend is your cheef / & our heed is god ! 468
Thogh we had in oure handes / but a clod
Of eerthe / at your heedes to slynge or caste,
Were wepne ynow / or a smal twig or rod;
The feith of Cryst / stikith in vs so faste ! 472
[60]
We dreden nat / we han greet auantage,
Whethir we lyue / or elles slayn be we.
In Crystes feith / for vp to heuenes stage,
If we so die / our soules lift shul be ; 476
And on fat othir paH / yee feendes / yee
In the dirke halke of* Helle shul descende !
And yit with vs abit this charitee,
Our desir is / )>at yee yow wolde amende. 480
[61]
Yee holden many an othir errowr mo peaf i6]
Then may be writen in a litil space,
But lak* of leisir me commandith ho.
Almighty god / byseeche I of* his grace 484
Enable yow to seen his blessid face.
Which fat is o god / & persones three.
Remembre yow / heuene is a miry place,
And helle is ful of sharp aduersitee. 488
[62]
Yit, Oldcastel / for him fat his blood shadde oidca«tie!
Vp on the crois / to his feith tome agayn ! chiisfs raith \
Forget nat the loue / he to vs hadde,
23
We shall go to
Heaven.
Ye to Hell 1
Yet, I pray God to
•ave you.
24 II. TO SIR JOHN OLDCASTLE. A.D. 1416.
}5at blisful lord / fat for alle vs / was slayn ! 492
Turn not thy From heimes forward / trouble nat thy bray n
Faith! As thow hast doon, ageyn the feith ful sore !
Cryst, of thy soule / glad be wolde, & fayn :
Ketowrne knygfetly now vn-to his lore ! 496
[63]
Repent! Repeiito thee / and with him make accord 1
Conquere meryt and honour / let see,
Looke how our cristen Prince, our lige lord,
Why art thou not With many a lord & knyght beyond the See, 600
fighting in France
by King Henry's Laboure in armes / & thow hydest thee !
thee! And darst nat come / & she we thy visage !
0, fy ! for shame / how can a knyght be
Dut of thonur of this rial viage % 504
[64]
peaf 16, bk.] gum tyme was no knyghtly turn no where,
was in every fray. Ne uo mauhode shcwid in no wyse,
But Oldcastel wolde, his thankes, be there.
How has the Devil How hath the cursid fiend changid thy gyse 1 508
Flee from him ! and alle his wirkes despyse !
And \a\i y-doon, vn-to our cristen kyng
„ ., .^ . Thee hie as faste / as bat thow canst dyuyse,
Humble thee to ' ' ^ ./ '
bur Kingi ^^A humble eeke thee to him / for any thyng 1 512
Cest tout.
S^a..uUur ^ -^ ^3/ ^. <^0-CC
III. LA MALB RBOLE DE T. HOGGLEn&
25
[III.]
Cg enjsugt la male regie ie E* ll^occleue,
[Against his ill-regulated life : eating and drinking to excess
for 20 years (1. 109 — 112) ; treating and kissing girls, 1. 146 —
160 ; (He confesses his cowardice in L 169 — 176 ;) drinking in
Taverns at "Westminster, 1. 179 ; (tho' still young — say 35 —
1. 209) going on the river, 1. 190 — 208, and this mainly with
borrowd money, 1. 369 — 371.
Final § kept up. Double vowel for tone, * haast, aart, paart,
&c., and to give the liquid w, treewe ; ou used for other w,
souffyse, &c., souffre ; rmi for not, as always.]
[In 5-measure eights, ahaJb^ bcbc. Printed by G. Mason.]
[1]
precious tresor incoDparable I
' ground & roote of prosperitee !
excellent richesse commendable
Abouen alle / \a\, in eerthe be ! 4
Who may susteene thyn aduersitee 1
What wigfit may liim avante of worldly welthe,
But if he fully stande in grace of thee,
Erthely god / piler of lyf / thow helthe 1 8
[2]
Whil thy power / and excellent vigour
(As was plesant vn-to thy worthy nesse)
Regned in me / & was my gouemour,
Than was I wol / tho felte I no duresse, 12
Tho farsid was I with liertes gladnesse ;
And now my body empty is, & bare
Of ioie / and ful of seekly heuy nesse,
Al poore of ese / <fe ryche of euel fare ! 16
[3]
If fat thy fauour twynne from a wigfetf 17
Smal is his ese / & greet is his greuance !
jrhy loue / is lyf / thyn hate sleeth doun right I
Deaf 16, backj
Health,
who can have
wealth without
thee?
9 Deaf 17]
When I had thee;
I was glad.
Now am I Joyless.
in. IJL MALE REOTiE DE T. HOOCLEUB.
I have lost Health, Who may compleync thy dis8eue?*auce
Bettre than I, pat, of myn ignorance,
Vn-to seeknesse am knyt / thy mortel fo.
and I know what Now Can I knowe feeste fro penaunce ;
penance is. t-ii.t-r • i it it ii-
And whil I was ynth thee / kowde I nat so.
[4]
I suffer daily
[leaf 17, back]
In youth I knew
not what it was to
lose Health.
20
My grief and bisy smert cotidian
So me labouren & tornienten sore,
pat what thow art now / wel remembre I can,
And what fruyt is in keepynge of thy lore.
Had I thy power knowen or this yore.
As now thy fo conpelUth me to knowe,
Nat sholde his lym han cleued to my gore,
For al his aart / ne han me broght thus lowe. •
[5]
But I haue herd men seye louge ago,
* Prosperitee is blynd / & see ne may ' :
And verifie I can wel / it is so ;
For I my self* put haue it in assay.
Whan I was weel / kowde I considere it ? nay !
But what / me longed aftir nouelrie,
As yeeres yonge yemen day by day ;
for my past folly. And now my smert accusith my folie.
[6]
Myn vnwar yowthe kneew nat what it wroghte,
This woot I wel / whan fro thee twynned shee ;
But of luV ignorance hir self shee soghte.
And kneew nat fat shco dwellyng was with thee ;
For to a wight wer^ it greet nycetee
His lord or freend wityngly for toffende,
Lest pat the weigHte of his aduersitee
The fool oppresse / & make of him an ende.
[7]
From hennes foorth wole I do reuerence
Vn-to thy name / & holde of thee in cheef,
And werre make, & sharp resistence
24
25
28
32
33
36
40
41
44
48
49
in. LA MALE REOLE DB T. HOCGLEUE.
27
Ageyn thy fo & myn, fat cruel theef*,
j)at vndir foote / me halt in mescheef",
So thow me to thy grace reconcyle.
O now thyn help / thy socowr and releef* !
And I for ay / mis reule wole exyle.
[8]
But thy mercy excede myn offense /
The keene assautes of thyn aducrsarie
Me wole oppresse with hir violence.
No wondir / thogh thow he to me contrarie ;
My lustes hlynde han causid thee to varie
Fro me / thurgh my folic & inpudence ;
Wherfore / I, wrecche / curse may & warie
The seed and fruyt of chyldly sapience.
[9]
As for the more paart / youthe is rehel
Vn-to reson / & hatith her doctryne,
Kegnynge which / it may nat stande wel
With yowthe / as fer as wit can ymagyne.
/ yowthe / alias / why wilt thow nat enclyne,
And vn-to reuled reform bo we thee 1
Syn resoun is the Verray streighte lyne
\)at ledith folk* / vn-to felicitee.
[10]
Ful seelde is seen / pat yowthe takith heede
Of perils fat been likly for to faH ;
For, haue he take a purpos / fat moot nede
Been execut / no conseil wole he call ;
His owne wit, he demeth best of ati ;
And foorth ther-with / he renneth brydillees,
As he fat nat betwixt hony and gali
Can iuge / ne the werre fro the pees.
[II]
AH othir mennes wittes he despisith ;
They answeren no thyng to his entente ;
His rakil wit only to him souffysith ;
52
Help me, O
Health ; and I'll
56 give up misrule.
57
60
64
65
68
72
73
76
Deaf 18]
My blind luats hav
driven thee away.
Why will not
Youth bow to
Rule?
Youth will hav iU
own way.
80
81 rieaflS.backJ
III. LA MALE BEOLE DE T. HOGCLEDE.
My friendH warnd
me against my
misrule.
And now I'm ripe
for tlie grave.
[leaf 19]
Reason bade me
eat and drink
moderately.
Bat for 20 years
I've livd in excess.
His hy presumpcioMn nat list consente
To doon as fat Salomon wroot & mente,
j)at redde men by conseil for to werke ;
Now, youthe, now / thow sore shalt repente
Thy ligHtlees wittes duH, of reson derke !
[12]
My freendes seiden vn-to me ful ofte,
My mis reule me cause wolde a fit ;
And redden me, in esy wyse & softe,
A lyte and lyte to withdrawen it ;
But fat nat miglite synke in-to my wit,
So was the lust y-rootid in myn herte.
And now I am so rype vn-to my pit,
pat scarsely I may it nat asterte.
[13]
Who-so cleer yen hath, & can nat see,
Ful smal, of ye, auaillith the office /
U Right so / syn reson youen is to me
For t-o discerne a vertu from a vice,
If I nat can with resown me cheuice.
But wilfully fro reson me \vithdrawe,
Thogh I of hii^ haue no benefice,
"No wondir / ne no fauot^r in hir la we.
[14]
Reson me bad / & redde as for the beste.
To ete and drynke in tyme attemprely ;
But wilful youthe nat obeie leste
Vn-to fat reed / ne sette nat ther-by.
I take haue of hem bothe outrageously
And out of tyme / nat two yeer or three.
But .XX." wyntir past continuelly,
Excesse at horde hath leyd his knyf witJi me.
[15]
The custume of my repleet abstinence,
My greedy mowth, Receite of swich outrage,
And hondes two / as woot my negligence,
84
88
89
92
96
97
100
104
105
108
112
113
III. LA HALE REOLB DB T. HOOCLEUB.
29
Thus han me gyded / & brogfet in seruage
Of hire fat werreieth euery age,
Seeknesse, y meene, riotoures whippe,
Habundantly pat paieth me my wage,
So fat me neithir daunce list, ne skippe.
[16]
The outward signe of Bachus & his lure,
j)at at his dore hangith day by day /
Excitith folk* / to taaste of his moisture
So often / fat man can nat wel seyn nay.
For me, I seye / I was enclyned ay
With-outen daunger thidir for to hye me.
But if s-Nvich charge / vp on my bake lay,
That 1 moot it forbere / as for a tyme ;
[17]
Or but I were nakidly bystad
By force of the penylees maladie.
For thanne in herte kowde I nat be glad,
Ne lust had noon to Bachus hows to hie.
Fy f Lak of coyn / departith conpaignie.
And heuy purs, with herte liberal,
Qwenchith the thirsty hete of hertes drie,
Wher chynchy herte / hath ther-of but smal.
[18]
I dar nat telle / how fat the fresshe repeir
Of venus femel lusty children deere,
j)at so goodly / so shaply were, and feir,
And so plesant of port & of maneere,
And feede cowden al a world witA cheere.
And of atyr passyngly wel byseye.
At Poules heed me maden ofte appeere,
To talke of mirthe / & to disporte & pleye.
[19]
Ther was sweet wyn ynow thurgh-out the hous,
And wafres thikke / for this conpaignie
\)at I spak of / been sumwhat likerous,
116
120
121
124
136
137
And now, Sickness
has hold of me.
140
144
145
I haunted Wine*
liouses, and
dranlc.
128
129 Deaf 19, back]
save when I was
penniless.
132
I went after pretty
girls
atthePaursHead
Tavern,
and treated em to
wine and wafers.
III. LA MALE REOLB DE T. HOG0LBT7B.
Ofconrie I paid
for the girlt.
[leaf 20]
But I only kist
em, and didn't do
anything
naughtier.
Drinking wastes
your money, and
makes you talk
scandal.
But I was so
afraid of fighting,
that I kept my
tongue close.
[leaf to, back]
Who was better
known than I
among Taverners
Where as they mowe a dragfet of wyn espie^
Sweete / and in wirkynge hoot for the maistrie
To warme a stomak' with / ther-of they drankd.
To suffre hem paie, had been no courtesie :
That charge I tooka / to wynne loue & thankc.
[20]
Of loues aart / yit touchid I no deel ;
I cowde nat / & eek it was no neede :
Had I a kus / I was content ful weel,
Bettre than I wolde han be wtt/i the deede :
Ther-on can I but smal ; it is no dreede :
Whan fat men speke of it in my presence,
For shame I wexe as reed as is the gleede.
Now wole I tome ageyn to my sentence.
[21]
Of hini pat hauntith taueme of custume,
At shorte wordes / the profyt is this :
In double wyse / his bagge it shal consume,
And make his tonge speke of folk* amis ;
For in the cuppe / seelden fownden is,
j)at any wight his neigheburgh commendith.
Beholde & see / what auantage is his,
j)at god / his freend / & eek" him self, offendith.
[22]
But oon auauntage / in this cas I haue :
I was so ferd / with any man to fighte,
Cloos kepte I me / no man durste I depraue
But rownyngly / I spak no thyng on hi^te.
And yit my wil was good / if fat I mighte,
For lettynge of my manly cowardyse,
\)at ay of strookes impressid the wighte.
So fat I durste medlen in no wyse.
[23]
Wher was a gretter maister eek* than y,
Or bet aqweyntid at Westmynstre yate,
Among the tauerneres namely,
148
152
153
156
160
161
164
168
169
172
176
177
III. LA MALE RBOLB DB T. HOOCLBUB.
31
And Cookes / whan I cam / eerly or late]
I pynchid nat at hem in myn acate,
But paied hem / as ]>at thej axe wolde ;
Wherfore I was the welcomere algat«,
And for * a verray gentil man * y-holde.
[24]
And if it happid on the Someres day
\)at I thus at the tauerne hadde be,
Whan I departe sholde / & go my way
Hoom to the priuee seel / so wowed rae
Heete & vnlust and superfluitee
To walke vn-to the brigge / & take a boot / .
j)at nat durste I contrarie hem aU three,
But dide as fat they stired me / god woot.
[25]
And in the wyntir / for the way was deep,
Vn-to the brigge I dressid me also,
And ther the bootmen took vp-on me keep,
For they my riot kneewen fern ago :
WitJi hem was I I-tugged to and fro,
So wel was him / fat I w/t/t wolde fare ;
For riot paieth largely / eneremo ;
He styntith neuere / til hia purs be bare.
[26]
Othir than * maistir * / callid was I neuere,
Among this meynee, in myn audience.
Me thoghte / I was y-maad a man for eucre :
So tikelid me fat nyce reuerence,
fat it me ma<ie largei-^ of despense
Than fat I thoght nan been / o ftaterie !
The guyse of thy traiterous diligence
Is, folk* to mescheef haasten / & to hie.
[27]
Al be it fat my yeeres be but yonge /
Yit haue I seen in folk* of by degree,
Kow f'ct the vonym of fuuolns longe
180 and Cooks at
W«tminat«r
Gate?
I paid freely, and
was held ' A
refnilar Gentle-
184 "'"•"
185
188
192
193
196
200
201
204
208
209
And after drink*
ing and feeding,
instead of going
to work at the
Privy Seal Office,
I'd take a boat.
In winter too, I'd
have a IxMtt,
and tlie Boatmen
fought for me, as
I paid well.
[leaf 21]
Tliese fellows
always cald me
"Mast«r,"and
that tickled my
vanity, and made
me pay em
largely.
Flattery's tongue
has rairid many
folk!
Servants flatter
and lie to their
lords.
[leaf 21. back]
Flatterers are
' Enchanters ' or
Deceivers.
Read in the Book
of the Nature of
Beatttt how Mer-
maids entice and
devour Shipmen I
III. LA MALE RBGLE DE T. HOOCLBUB.
Hath mortified hir prosperitee, 212
And brogfet hem in so sharp adue^'sitee
pat it hir lyf" hath also throwe a-doun.
And yit ther can no man in this contree
Vnnethe eschue this confusioun. 216
[28]
Many a seruant / vn-to his lord seith, 217
*j5at al the world spekith of him honour,'
Whan the contrarie of fat / is sooth in f eith :
And lightly leeued is this losengeour : 220
His hony wordes / wrappid in errour,
Blyndly eonceyued been / the more harm is !
! thow, fauele, of lesynges Auctour,
Causist al day / thy lord to fare amis ! 224
[29]
Tho combreworldes clept been * enchantours ' 225
In bookes / as pat I haue, or this, red,
That is to seye, sotil deceyuours.
By whom the peple is mis gyed & led, 228
And with plesance so fostred and fed,
j)at they forgete hem self, & can nat feele
The soothe of the condicion in hem bred,
'No more / than hir wit were in hire heele. 232
[30]
IT Who-so fat list in * the book* of nature 233
Of beestes ' rede / tber-in he may see
(If he take heede vn-to the scripture,)
Where it spekith of meermaides in the See, 236
How J?at so inly mine syngith shee,
\)at the shipman ther-with fallith a sleepe.
And by hir* aftir deuoured is he :
From al which song, is good, men hem to keepe. 240
[31]
Right so the feyned wordes of plesance 241
Annoyen aftir / thogh they plese a tyme
To hem fat been vnwyse of gouernance,
III. LA UALK BEGLB DE T. HOOOLEUB.
33
Lorcies ! beeth waar / Let nat fauel yow lyme I
If fat yee been enuolupid in cryme,
Yee may nat deeme / men speke of yow weel,
Thogfe fauel peynte hir tale in prose or ryme :
Ful holsum is it / truste bir* nat a deel.
[32]
U Holcote seith vp-on the book* also
Of sapience / as it can testifie,
Whan fat Vlixes saiilid to and fro
By meermaides / this was his policie,
Alle eres of men of his compaignie,
With wex he stoppe leet / for fat they noght
»
Hir song sholde heere / lest the armonye
Hem mighte vn-to swich deedly sleep ban broglit,
[33]
And bond him self / vn-to the shippes mast :
Lo ! thus hem alle, saued his prudence.
The wys man is, of peril sore agast.
O flaterie 1 o lurkyng* pestilence !
If sum man dide his cure & diligence
To stoppe his eres fro thy poesie,
And nat wolde herkne a word of thy sentence,
Vn-to his greef it were a remedie.
[34]
As nay / al thogh thy tonge were ago,
Yit canst thow glose in contenance & cheere ;
Thow supportist with lookes eueremo
Thy lordes wordes in eche mateere,
Al-thogh fat they a myte be to deere ;
And thus thy gyse ia priuee and appert
With word and look" / among our lordes heere
Preferred be / thogh ther be no dissert.
[35]
But whan the sobre / treewe, & weel auysid,
Wtt/i sad visage his lord enfowrmeth pleyn,
How fat his gouernance is despysid
HOCOLEVE, M.P. — I. D
244 Don't let Flattery
entangle you 1
248
249 [leafSS]
Holkot, in hill
Comment on the
Witdom ofSolO'
mon, tells how
252 ^y*^* "^P'^ ^'"
men'8eanagainat
the MermaidA'
song.
256
257
and bound himself
to the ship's mast.
260
So should men
stop their ears
against Flattery.
264
265
Flatterers support
all their lord's bad
words.
268
272
273 Dear 22, back]
And when good
advisers
III. LA MALE BEOLS DE T. HOOCLEUE.
tiUtbetriord Among the peple /& seith him as they seyn^ 276
As man treewe oghte vn-to his souereyn,
to amend his Conseillynge him amende his gouernance,
thtm leave. The loides herte swellith for desdeyn,
And bit him voide blyue with meschaunce. 280
[36]
Men setten nat by trouthe now adayes ; 281
Men loue it nat / men wole it nat cherice ;
And yit is trouthe best at aR assayes.
When ])at fals fauel, soustenour of vicej 284
Nat wite shal how hire to cheuyce,
Ful boldely shal trouthe hii^ heed vp here.
Let not Flattery Lordes, lest fauel / yow fro wele tryce,
nettle in your
ears ! No lenget souf&e hii^ nestlen in your erel 288
[37]
^ Be as be may / no more of this as now ; 289
But to my mis reule wole I refeere.
Wher as I was at ese weel ynow,
Before I livd in Or excesse vn-to me leef was, & deere, 292
exoesB, I was fiiirly
off: now I am And, or I kueew his ernestful maoeere,
My purs, of coyn had resonable wone ;
But now,, ther-in can ther but scant appeere :
Excesse hath ny exyled hem echone. 296
[38]
Oaf 28] The feend and excesse been conuertible, 297
SJJJ" * * As enditith to me my fantasie :
This is my skile / if it be admittible :
Excesse of mete & drynke is glotonye ; 300
Glotonye awakith malencolie ;
Malencolie engendrith werre & stry fc ;
Stryf causith mortel hurt thurgh hir folic :
and icuis the soul. Thus may cxcesse reue a soule hir lyfe. 304
[39]
H No force of al this / go we now to wacche 305
By nightirtale / out of al mesure ;
For as in |>at / fynde kowde I no macche
lU. LA MALE BBQLB DE T. HOOOLEUB.
35
In al the priuee seel with me to endure ;
And to the cuppe ay took I heede & cure,
For fat the drynke apalle sholde noght.
But whan the pot emptid was of moisture,
To wake aftirward / can nat in my thoght.
[40]
But whan the cuppe had thus my neede sped,
And sumdel more than necessitee,
With repleet spirit wente I to my bed,
And bathid there in superflnitee.
But on the mom / was wight of no degree
So looth as I / to twynne fro my cowche :
By aght I woot / abyde / let me see !
Of two / as looth / T am seur, kowde I towche.
[41]
I dar nat seyn Prentys and Arondel
Me countrefete, & in swich wach go ny me ;
But often they hir bed louen so wel,
pat of the day / it drawith ny the pryme,
Or tbey ryse vp / nat tell I can the tyme
Whan they to bedde goon / it is so late.
helthe, lord / thow seest hem in fat cry me !
And yit thee looth is / with hem to debate.
[42]
And why / I not / it sit nat vn-to me,
])at mirour am of riot & excesse.
To knowen of a goddes pryuetee ;
But thus I ymagyne / and thus I gesse :
Thow meeued art, of tendre gentillesse,
Hem to forbere / and wilt hem nat chastyse.
For they, in merthe and vertuous gladnesse,
Lordes reconforten in sundry wyse.
[43]
But to my purpos / syn fat my seeknesse.
As wel of purs as body, hath refreyned
Me fro Taueme / & othir wantonnesse,
D 2
308 No one in the
Privy-Seal OAce
sat np drinking
at niglit, like I,
312
313
316
320
321
a24
328
329
332
or was so loth to
rise in the morn-
ing;
[leafSS, back]
tho* my fellow-
clerks, Prentys
and Arondel, often
lay in bed till
9 a.m.
But Health has
not left them
because they
336 amuse Lords.
337 Since illness has
kept me from the
Tavern,
ni. LA MALE REOLB DB T. HOOCLBUE.
my name Is
rieafSi]
Huccleve! Be
moderate now t
Be tatisfled with
a middle coarse !
Tliy rents are
scanty.
tliou earnest
notliing.
Thou dar'st not
steal or beg.
[leaf 24, back]
Thou bonrowedst
much.
Among an heep / my name is now desteyned,
My greuous hurt ful litil is conpleyned,
]3ut they, the lak* compleyne of my despense.
Alias fat euere knyt I was, and cheyned
To excesse / or him dide obedience.
[44]
De-spenses large enhaunce a mannes loos
Whil they endure / & whan they be forbore,
His nfpie is deed / men keepe hir mowthes cloos.
As nat a peny had he spent tofore.
My thank is qweynt / my purs, his stuf hath lore,
And my Carkeis repleet with heuynesse.
Be waar, Hoccleue / I rede thee therfore,
And to a mene reule / thow thee dresse !
[46]
Who-so, passynge mesure, desyrith,
(As fat witnessen olde Clerkes wyse,)
Him self encombrith often sythe, & myrith ;
And for-thy let the mene thee soufFyse.
If swich a conceit in thyn herte ryse.
As thy profyt may hyndre, or thy renoun,
If it were execut in any wyse,
With manly resoun thriste thow it doun 1
[46]
Thy rentes annuel / as thow wel woost.
To scarse been, greet costes to susteene ;
And in thy cofre, pardee, is cold roost,
And of thy manuel labowr, as I weene,
Thy lucre is swich / pat it vnnethe is scene
Ne felt / of yiftes seye I eek the same ;
And stele, for the guerdown is so keene,
Ne darst thow nat / ne begge also for shame.
[47]
Than wolde it seeme / fat thow borwid haast
Mochil of fat fat thow haast thus despent
In outrage & excesse, and verray waast,
340
344
345
348
352
353
356
360
361
364
368
369
III. LA MALE REGLE DE T. HOCOLEUE.
37
384
385
Auyse thee / for what thyng pat is lent, 372
Of verray rigfit / moot hoom ageyn be sent ;
Thow ther-in haast no perpetuitee.
Thy dettes paie / lest fat thow be shent,
And or fat thow ther-to compellid be. 376
[48]
Sum folk in this cas drcedeu more offense 377
Of man / for wyly wrenches of the lawe,
Than he dooth, eithir god or conscience ;
For by hem two, he settith nat [an] hawe. 380
If thy conceit be swich / thow it withdrawe,
I rede / and voide it clene out of thyn herte ;
And first of god, and syn of man, haue awe,
Lest pat they bothe / make thee to smerte.
[49]
Now lat this smert, wamynge to thee be ;
And if thow maist heere-aftir be releeued
Of body and purs / so thow gye thee
By wit / pat thow / no more thus be greened. 388
What riot is / thow taasted haast, and preeued ;
The fyr / men seyn / he dreedith pat is brent ;
And if thow do so / thow art wel y-meeued :
Be now no lenger, fool / by myn assent !
[50]
Ey / what is me / pat to my self, thus longe, 393
Clappid haue I / I trowe pat I raue.
A / nay / my poore purs / and peynes stronge
Han artid me speke as I spoken haue.
Who-so him shapith, mercy for to craue.
His lesson moot recorde in sundry wyse ;
And whil my breeth may in my body wane.
To recorde it / vnnethe I may souffyse. 400
[51]
IT god ! helthe ! vn-to thyn ordenance, 401
Weleful lord / meekly submitte I me.
I am contryt / & of ful repentance
PaythydefafU'
FMtr God, and the
Uwl
Ifthoareooverest,
liTO well.
^^^ and don't be a
392 fool I
[leaf 25]
My poverty and
pains make me
396 •P^thus.
III. LA MALB REGLB DB T. HOOOLBUB.
,0 Health, be mer*
cifUl to me !
My body and
parse are both
tick.
[leaf 25, back]
Tell Lord Farni-
Tal, the Treaanrer,
to pay me my
yearly £10, due
laut Michaelmas.
I sink the arrears.
[MS.l
Annas Ule ftiit
anniM restrie*
fcionis annoita-
tUM
I must learn to
beg.
The dumb man
gets no land.
408
409
416
417
J)at exiere I swymmed in s'W'ich nycetee 404
As was displesaunt to thy deitee.
Now kythe on me thy mercy & thy grace !
It sit a god, been of his grace free ;
Foryeue / & neuere wole I eft trespace !
[52]
My body and purs been at oones seeke ;
And for hem bothe / I to thyn hy noblesse,
As humblely as ^at I can ' byseeke
Wit^ herte vnfeyned / reewe on our distresse ! 412
Pitee haue of myn harmful heuynesse !
Keleeue the repentant in disese !
Despende on me a drope of thy largesse,
Eig&t in this wyse / if it thee lyke & plese.
[63]
IT Lo, lat my lord the Foumeval, I preye,
My noble lord / fat now is tresoreer,
From thyn Hynesse haue a tokne or tweye
To pale me ]>at due is for this yeer 420
Of my yeerly .x. ti. in theschequeer,
Nat but for Michel terme pat was last :
I dar nat speke a word of feme yeer,
So is my spirit symple and sore agast.
{54]
I kepte nat to be seen inportune
In my pursuyte / I am ther-to ful looth ;
And yit fat gyse / ryf is, and commune
Among the peple now, withouten ooth ; 428
As the shamelees crauowr wole / it gooth.
For estaat real / can nat al day werne.
But poore shamefast man ofte is wroth j
Therfore, for to craue, moot I lerne. 432
[55]
The prouerbe is / * the doumb man, no lond getith ; '
Who-80 nat spekith / & with neede is bete.
And, thurgfi arghnesse / his owne self forgetith.
424
425
^
A<K/e>5c^^^
nr. COUNSEL to HBNRT v. 21 march, 141M3.
39
No wondir / thogh an othir him forgete.
Neede hath no lawe / as fat the Clerkes trete,
And thus to crane / artith me my neede ;
And right wole eek" fat I me entremete,
For fat I axe is due / as god me speede I
[56]
And fat that due is / thy magnificence
Shameth to werne / as fat I byleeue.
Afl I saide / reewe on myn inpotence,
Jjat likly am to sterue yit or eeue,
But if thow in this wy[8]e me releeue.
By coyn, I gete may swich medecyne
As may myn hurtes allc, fat me greeue,
Exyle cleene / & voide me of pyne.
436
I ask only for
4 40 what i> doe to me.
441
Cleaft«]
444
Coin 11 cure all
my hurts*
448
[IV.] T^tr^^^^^ "^o co^^.^^,
Ceiste iialalie engugante feuist faite au tres ^^^ H^^c<lMdl.&
noiile Ifilog M. \u TSK, {^ue ifieu p^^r. ^:>jiwW
lioint I) le iwx t{ue leg %eiffneux% ife son ^
Ifiloialme liii firent lo^^r fiowageg
a Ifitengnfltown,
[21 March, 1412-13. In 5-mea8ure eights, dbah hchc,]
[1]
Ilhe Kyng of Kynges regnyng* ouer al,
Which stablisshid hath in etemitee
His hy might / fat nat varie he may ne shal,
So constant is his blisful deitee,
My lige lord / this grace yow graunte he,
That your estaat rial / which fat this day videlicet m^o die S^iy 1
Haath maad me lige to your souereyntee, vo!fri primo.*^**^
In reule vertuous continue may.
[on leaf 2»3
4 K. Henry V.
May Gk)d grant
you to rule virtu-
[1418]
40 IT. COUNSEL TO HENRY T. 21 MARCH, UI2-I3.
[2]
Deaf 26, back] God dreede / & ficche in him yowr trust verray ! 9
Be clene in herte / & loue chastitee !
Be just. Be sobre / sad / iust / trouthe, obserue alway !
Good conseil take / & af tir it do yee 1 1 2
Be bumble in goost / of* your tonge attempree ;
pitiful, and pru- Pitous & merciable in special ;
Prudent* / debonair^, in mesure free ;
Nat ouer large / ne vn-to gold tbral I 16
[3]
Be to your liges also sheeld & wal 1 17
Keepe and deffende hem from aduersitee !
Hir wele and wo / in your grace lyth aL
ooreni with Law Gouemetli hem in la\ye and equitee ; 20
"^^ ' Gonquere hir loue / & haue hem in cheertee !
B« Holy Church's Be holy chirchcs Ghampiown eek* ay ;
Susteene hir right / souffre no thyng doon be
In preiudice of hii*, by no way ! 24
[4]
Seilieet. ecc/esiam sanctem.
Drive out heresy! Strengthe your modir / in chacyng* away 25
Therrowr / which sones of iniquitee
Han sowe ageyn the feith / it is no nay,
Yee ther to bownde been of duetee ; 28
Your office is it / now, for your seurtee,
Souffreth nat Crystes feith to take a fal !
Vn-to his peple / and youres, cheerly see.
In cons^'uyng* of your estat real ! 32
[5]
Peaf27] Syn god hath sentyow wit substancial, 33
And kynges might / vertu, putte in assay I
And, lige lord / thogh my conceit be smal,
And nat my wordes peynte fressfe and gay, 36
But clappe and iangle foorth, as dooth a iay,
Good wil to yow shal ther noon faille in me.,
I'll pray to God Byscechyng* vn-to god, fat, to his pay,
^^^ Yee may goueme your by dignitee. 40
f, rt/r/3.^ (^,^^r^j)9^0vct Jj^u, V g KG C!^ f. t)
Kitig, and
V. AND VI. TO HBNRT V. AND THE KNIGHTS OP THE OARTER. 41
[V. AND VL] ^<^- VV.VWU. eboc^
Ceistes ialalreiE; ensugantes ^ feurent UUti au
tresnoble Eog !&♦ le quint, {i{ue irteu par^
Irotnt !) $c au tresfjonowraWe conpaignie
\s\x latter*
[In five-measure eights, abah, hchc.'\
[1]
To yow, welle of honur and worthynesse,
Our rigfit cristen kyng / heir & Successour
Vn-to lustinians deuout tendrenesse
In the feith of Ihc«u, our Eedemptour ; 4
And to yow, lordes of the garter / * flour
Of Chii^lrie * / as men yow clepe & calle;
The lord of vertu, and of grace Auctour,
Graunte / the fruyt of your loos nat appalle ! 8
[2]
Lige lord, fat han eek* the liknesse 9
Of Constantyn, thensaumple and the mirowr
To Princes alle, in loue & buxumnesse
To holy chirche / o verray sustenour 12
And piler of our feith, and werreyour
Ageyn the heresies bittir galle,
Do f oorth / do foorth / continue your socour !
Holde vp Crystes Baner / lat it nat falle 1 16
[3]
This yle, or this, had been but hethenesse, 17
Nad been of yoMr feith the force & vigour !
And yit, this day, the feeudes fikilnesse
Weeneth fully to cacche a tyme & hour 20
To haue on vs, your liges, a sharp shour,
And to his seruiture / vs knytte and thralle.
' There are two Balades, of 4 stanzas each, under this heading.
Lords of tlie
Garter,
may your praize
never lessen !
[leaf 27, back]
King, upholder
of oar Faith
against Hereby,
keep on your
help!
But for you, we
shoad liav been
hethens.
? a/4jc (^uii ^ ^^j\
42
King, forbid
open disputing
about the Faith!
[leaf 28]
Lords of the Gar-
ter, slay Christ's
foes!
[MS.]
5" quia Rex illnm
iusti8si[m]am
partem tenet
Quench the
nuisance of
Heresy!
Act at once !
YI. TO THE KNI0HT8 OF THE QABTBR.
But ay we truste in yow our protectour ;
On your Constance we awayten alle.
Commandith \a\, no wig&t haue hardynesse,
(Our worthy kyng and cristen Emperour !)
Of the feith to despute more or lesse
Openly among peple / where errour
Spryngith al day / & engendrith rumour.
Makith swich lawe / & for aght may befalle,
Obserue it wel / ther-to been yee dettour.
Dooth so / and god / in glorie shal yow stalle.
[5] tVI.l]
Yee lordes eek shynycge in noble fame,
To whiche approped is the maintenance
Of Crystes cause f In honour of his name
Shoue on / & putte his foos to the outrannce !
God wolde so / so wolde eek* yowr ligeance :
To tho two prikkith yow your duetee :
Who-80 nat keepith this double obeeruance,
Of meryt & honour / nakid is he.
[6] [VI. 2]
Your style seith / fat yee been foos to shame.
Now kythe of your feith / the perseuerance
In which an heep of vs am halt & lame \
Our Cristen kyng of" Engeland and France,
And yee, my lordes, with your alliance.
And othir feithful peple fat ther be,
Truste I to god, shul qwenche al this nusance,
And this land sette in hy prosperitee.
[7] [VI. 3]
Conqueste of hy prowesse is for to tame
The wylde woodnesse of this mescreance
Eight to the roote / rype yee fat same I
Sleepe nat this / but for goddes plesance
And his modres / & in signifiance
J5at yee been of seint Greorges liueree.
24
25
28
32
33
36
40
41
44
48
49
52
▼II. TO THB BLBSSBD YIROIN.
43
56
Dooth him seruice and knyglitly obeissance !
For Crystes cause is his / wel knowen yee !
[8] [VI. 4]
Stif stande in fat / & yee shuln greeue & grame 57 peaf 28. uck]
The f o to pees / & norice of distaunce ;
That now is ernest / tome it in-to game ;
Dampnable fro feith were variance!
Lord lige / & lordes, haue in remembrawnce,
Lord of al is the blissid Trinitee,
Of whos vertu / the mighty habundaunce
Yow herte & strengthe in feithful vnitee I Amen 1
Cest tout.
60 Heresy is
damnable
64
[In five-measure eights, ahdb, bcbc.']
[1]
Modir of lyf / o cause of al our welthe,
Fyndere of* grace and of our medecyne !
Where-as an appil refte our lyf and helthe,
And marie[de] vs vn-to ay lastyng pyne,
As sones of perdicion and ruyne ;
That matrymoyne / thy virginitee
Dissolued / & vnbownden hath, virgyne,
And at our large / maad vs walke free !
[2]
blessid be thow ! vessel of clennesse,
In whom our soules salue list habyte !
tree of lyf / swettest of al swetnesse,
In thy fruyt yeue vs grace to delyte !
And thogh thy sone, cause haue vs to smyte
MutherofLtfet
from the curse of
the apple
8 thoa hast freed us.
[leaf 29]
12
Tree of Life I let
as delight In thy
frnit!
^^a^ ^4Ss (?^/4^S »^
44 VII. TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN.
For our giltes / yit our mediatrice,
stir thy Son to As thow hast euere doon / thow him excite
Vn-to mercy / for fat is thyn office. 16
[3]
I am so Btuft with My soulc is stuffid SO with stynk* of* synne, 17
thou wilt turn J5at ay it dreedith befom thee appeere,
Lest for the filthe / which fat it is ynne,
Thow tome away thy mcrciable cheere, 20
And deyne nat accepte my preyeere.
And if my trespas heere / I nat confesse,
How shal I doon / o Crystes modir deere
Whan god shal iuge vs alle, more & lesse \ 24
[4]
Sin, why hast why, my syuues / why, my wikkidnesses, 25
WttA your venym / my soule slayn, han yee,
And put in it so desperat gastnesses,
J5at mercy may ne list beholde me \ 28
Why opp*6ssith yowr heuy aduersitee
The hope of myn exaudicioun,
And shame in yow, maad hath so large entree,
ofthe voice of t^ * a-l • i* • n on
Prayer? J^tft yce the vois me reue of onsoun 1 32
[5]
[iear29,baci(] AUas thy shame, o thow filthy offense 33
In the presence of shynynge holynesse !
shenshipe of vnclene conscience
In the beholdynge of pured clennesse ! 36
Where is the caitif* soule iuuolued in dirknesse !
MitiffLui?*^ What wilt thow do / where is thy remediel
Who may thy mescheef and thy greef redresse,
Syn of thy gilt / thow darst nat mercy crie % 40
[6]
Lo ! blessid womman among wommen allc, 41
Syn my spirit nat dar putte vp his bille,
Thy grace ne thy mercy for to calle,
But in his mazidnesse abydith stille, 44
My thristy soule / drynke may hir fiUa
■ •
VII. TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN.
45
Of sorwe, and bathe in sorwe & heuynesse :
Hir ferdful shame / hir shende wole, & spills*,
For to hii^ helthe / nat shee dar^ hir dresse.
[7]
My synnes yemen fat thyn hy pitee
Fully hem kneew / for hir curaciown ;
But they lothen appeere befom thee
For hir cursid abhominacion.
O spryng and welle of our sauuaciot^n,
My dirke soule of thy grace enlumyne,
And keepe it fro the castigacioun
That it disserued hath in helk pyne !
[8]
If I confesse myn iniquitee,
Lady / pat I wrogfit haue in thy presence,
Wilt thow me weme thy benignitee 1
If pat my gilt / & my dampnable offense
Of giltes alle haue an excellence,
Shal thy mercy be lesse / than it oghte ?
May nat thy mercy, with my gilt dispense,
And pardon gete of pat pat it mis wroghte ?
[9]
The more pat my gilt passith mesure,
And stynkith in thy sones sighte and thyn /
The gretter neede hath it, of his cure
And of thyn help / wherfore, lady myn,
My soule fro the net and fro thengyn
Of him pat waytith it to slee / thow keepe !
His sotil snares, and cacchynge twyn.
In my memorie ficchid been fid deepe.
[10]
Lady / thyn help / nat wole I me despeire.
For in myn herte fully I conceyue
J5at thow to heuene / art the laddre & sterre
By which men clymben, blisse to receyue.
* Why not * dar shee nat * ?
48
49
I dare not seek
my cure.
52
56
57
60
64
65
68
72
73
76
WellofourSal'
▼ation, keep me
out of Hell!
[leaf SO]
Ladj, refuse me
not thy grace I
Keep me out of
the Devil's net !
Thou art the stairs
to Heaven !
46
VII. TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN.
Lady, thy might
can win me
pardon!
[leaf 80. back]
Disdain not to
tave me :
Christ gave thee
the light of Grace
to lighten all folic
with.
Thou hast tumd
a God of Ven-
geance into a
Lord of Mercy.
[leaf SI]
Despeir heei^-aftir shal me nat deceyue,
pat I ne shal ay thee hyseeche of grace.
Thy migfet, I woot wel, is my gilt to weyue,
And of my trespas • pardoun me purchace.
Lii]
Thow, Crystes modir / sholdest neuere han be,
Ne had our synnes causid it certayn ;
For why / it had be no necessitee
But for thow qwikne shuldest vs agayn,
pat for our gilt original wem slayn.
Thow art his modir / wherfore I thee preye
To saue me / haue thow no desdayn,
J5at of bountee & mercy art the keye !
[12]
Euene as the moone / a mene is verraily
Betwixt vs and the sonne / of whom hir light
Shee takith / & it vniuerselly
Yeueth vn-to the world whan it is nyght ;
In swich a wyse / god, thy sone right.
The light of grace betook* vn-to thee,
For to mynistre it vn-to euery wight
pat ther-of list enlumyned to be.
[13]
Thyn humble goost, & maydens chastitee,
For our behoue han so mochil wroght
In sundry wyse / as pat wel knowen we,
pat thee to thanke / we souffyse noght.
Thow hast vs vn-to swich a plyt I-broght,
pat he, fat lord was sum tyme of vengeance,
With his blood hath our synful soules boght,
And is now lord of mercy & souffrance.
[14]
Where is a streighter way vn-to man-kynde,
To god, thy sone / our soules for to lede,
Than where as fat we may thy sone fynde
Beforn his fadir, with his wowndes rede,
80
81
84
88
89
92
96
97
100
104
105
108
VIU. ON mOHARD Il/s BURIAL AT WBBTMINSTER, 1413. 47
And the before hem / me?*cy for to grede :
Thy sone his body shewith al by bled ;
And to thy sone also, thy maydenhede
Shewith the pappes / wher-wit^ he was fed.
[15]
blessid Ihera ! for thy modres loue ;
And modir ! for the hy dileccion
))at thow hast to thy sone in heuene aboue,
Haueth me, bothe, in your proteccion !
Plante in myn herte swich correccion,
J5at I, your grace / & your m«rcy may hane,
And fully stande in yourc aflfeccion,
Or my body be clothid in his graue !
Cest tout.
Thou showest
ChriBt thy papa»
and he thows God
Hi8 woundt to get
OB mercy.
112
113 Christ and Mary,
116 protect me i
120
-ft
4^^U:j
[viii.] -v^^^{s:yb^^<;^ ~vo cc^^^.
f Cejste talaHe etttugante feujst faitc toat^V • V>'^*-'^^
aprca que Its oaaeg tju Itog Eicfjarlj '^y^ ^^^^ Jk.^^
[a.d. 1113. In flTe-meosnre eights, abab, hcbc.1 ^~J
[1]
TT7here-as fat this land wont was for to bo
' * Of sad byleeue & constant vnioil ;
And as fat holy chirche vs taghte / we
With herte buxum lemed our lessofi ;
Now han we changid our condiciofi !
Alias 1 an heep of vs, the feith werreye ;
We waden so deepe in presumpciofi,
J)at vs nat deyneth vn-to god obeye.
[2]
We rekken nat thogh Crystes lore deye ;
The feend hath maad vs dronke of the poiso2/n
[leaf 81, back]
4 We are no longer
aa of old, one in
Faith 1
8
9
(/^ /2)
48
yill. ON RIOHAQD II. 'S BURIAL AT WESTMINSTER, 1413.
We have drank
the Devil's poison
of Heresy !
But (thank Ood !)
Henry V. is
Heresy's foe.
Clear 82]
A heretic king
might rain our
Faith. BntQod
has sent us
Henry,
Who has burled
Richard II. by
his Queen in
Westminster
Abbey.
Of heresie / & lad vs a wrong weye,
\>qX tome shal to our confusioun,
But if \ai left be this abusioun.
And yit, seur confort* haue I / tbynkith me :
Our lige lord, the kyng, is Champioz^n
For holy cbirche / Crystes knyght is he !
'~ [3]
For why, o reucrent goostly fadres, yee,
And we, your sones eek*, han enchesot^n
Eight greet / to thanke god in Trinitee,
))at of his grace / hath sent this Eegioun
So noble an heed / looke vp, thow Albioitn !
God thanke / & for thy cristen Prince preye,
Syn he, fo is to this Bebellioiin :
He, of thy soules helthe, is lok* and keye 1
What migtiten folk* of good byleeue seye.
If bent were our kynges affeccion
To the wrong part / who sholde hem help pwrueye 1
A kyng set in fat wrong opinioun,
Mighte of our feith be the subuersioz^n ;
But eterne god, in persones three.
Hath reyned dropes of conpassioz^n,
And sent vs our good kyng for our cheertee !
[5]
See eek* how our Kynges benignitee
And louyng* herte / his vertu can bywreye.
Our kyng Eichard fat was / yee may wel see.
Is nat fled from his remembrance aweye.
My wit souffysith nat to peyse and weye
With what honowr he broght is to this toun,
And with his queene at Westmynstre in thabbeye
Solempnely in Toumbe leid adoun.
[6]
Now god, byseeche I, in conclusioun,
Henri the .V.* in ioie & hy nobleye
12
16
17
20
24
25
28
32
33
36
40
41
IZ. BALADB TO THB DUKB OF TORK.
Kegne on vs yeeres many a miliot^n I
And where as fat men erren & fonieye,
Walkynge blyndly in the dirk aleye
Of heresie / o lord god, preye I thee,
Enspire hem / \a\t no lenger they foleie !
To feithes path / hem lede thy pitee ! Amen 1
48
49
May Henry V.
. . reign maiij
44 million yearal
And Ood lead all
Ueretica to the
Faitb 1 .
px.]
[ISalalre to mg gractoua ILort of gorft.] /^rso ts, ^ V>
[Father of Edward IV. about 1448 A.D.] / • i\a ^
vc^
[In 6-measure nines, adb, aah, bob.]
[1] ^
Go, little pamfilet, and streight thee dresse
Vn-to the noble rootid gentillesse
Of* the mygfety Prince of famous honour,
My gracious lord of york* / to whos noblesse
Me recommande with hertes humblesse.
As he ^at haue his grace & his fauour
Fownden alway / for which I am dettour
For him to preye / & so shal my symplesse
Hertily do / vn-to my dethes hour.
[2]
Eemembre his worthynesse, I charge thee.
How ones at Londoii, desired he.
Of me ))at am his seruant / & shal ay,
To haue of my balades swich plentee
As ther weren remeynynge vn-to me ;
And for nat wole I ^ / to his wil seyn nay.
But fulfille it / as ferfoorth as I may,
Be thow an owtei'^ Qf my nycetee.
For my good lordes lust, and game, Ss play.
10
12
15
18
> Again, why not ' I wole nat ' I
HOOOLEVB, M.P. — I.
' ontputter, vent
B
Peaf82,back]
Go, little pamflet,
to the Duke of
York.
who onoe at
London aekt me to
•end him all the
Balades I had.
^j^lJjLIA.
Uh^
60
Bat let him not
show this to hit
DooheM,
pMfSSj
tho I have none
other to send her.
AIao, ask Prince
Edward not to let
Mr. Picard see it.
But, yes. let him
look at it 1
[leaf 38, back]
IZ. BALADB TO THE DUKE QF TORK.
[3]
My lord^bjseeke eek* in humble maneere,
That he nat souf&e thee for to appeere
In thonurable sighte, or the presence,
Of the noble Princesse & lady deere.
My gracious lady / my good lordes feere,
The mirour of* wommanly excellence.
Thy cheei' is naght / ne haast noon eloquence
To moustre thee before hir* yen cleere :
For myn honour / were holsum thyn absence.
[4]
Yit ful fayn wolde I haue a messageer
To recommande me, with herte enteer,
To hir benigne & humble womTnanhede ;
And at the tyme / haue I noon othir heer
But thee / & smal am I, for thee, the neer.
And if thow do it nat / than shal \a\, dede
Be left / & fat nat kepte I / out of drede.
My Lord / nat I / shal haue of thee / poweer.
Axe him a licence / vp on him crie & grede !
[5]
Whan fat thow hast thus doon / than aftirwai'd
Byseeche thow fat worthy Prince Edward,
J5at he thee leye apart / for what may tyde,
Lest thee beholde my Maister Picard.
I warne thee / fat it shal be ful hard
For thee & me to halte on any syde,
But he espie vs / yit no force / abyde I
Let him looke on / his herte is to me ward
So freendly / fat our shame wole he hyde.
[6]
If fat I in my wrytynge foleye,
As I do ofte, (I can it nat withseye,)
Meetrynge amis / or speke vnfittyngly,
Or nat by iust peys /my sentences weye.
And nat to the ordre of endytyng* obeye,
19
21
24
27
28
30
33
36
37
39
42
45
46
48
IX. BALADB TO THB DUKE OF TOBK.
And my colours sette ofte sythe awry \ 51
With al myn herte wole I buxumly,
It to amende and to correcte, him preye ;
Fop Tndir his correcdoun stande y. 54
m
Thow foul book*, vn-to my lord seye also, 55
\>ai pryde is vn-to me so greet a fo,
\>aX the spectacle, forbedith he me, 57
And hath y-doon of tyme yore ago ;
And for my sighte blyue hastith me fro.
And lakkith \ai \a\t sholde his confort be, 60
No wonder thogh thow haue no beau tee.
Out vp-on pryde / causei' of my wo !
My sighte is hurt thurgh hir aduersitee.
[8]
Now ende I thus / the holy Trinitee,
And our lady / the blissid mayden free.
My lord & lady haue in gouemance !
And graunte hem ioie & hy prosperitee,
Nat to endure / oonly two yeer or thre,
But a .M.t ! and if any plesance 69
Happe mighte, on my poore souffissance,
To his prowesse / & hir benignitee,
My lyues ioie it were, and sustenance ! 72
Cest tout,
Fol. 25, Johannes Talbot, Dominus de Fumival, was first
summoned to Pari* 11 H. 4, and to many subsequent Pari'* in
that reign and the next . . . . T. Tyrwhitt. [Note in MS.]
Balade to Duke of York, If. 82 bk. Prince Edw* (after,
Edw. IV), not bom till about 1442. If we suppose him 6
years old (and he could not be much less to be under the tuition
of Maister Picard), this poem was written in 1448. [Note in MS.]
51
I'll correct it as
he tells ine.
I'm too proud to
wear spectacles.
and therefore
make fiiults.
63
64
Maj the Trinity
protect the Duke
66 *nd Duchess i
£ 2
52 X. TO THl BL18SED TIBaiN, THE MOTHER OF OOD.
{Otnerally cold Chaitoeb's " Moth^ of Cfod,")
[In 5-meaaiire s^yenB, dbdbb, ec.]
[1]
Mother of God. lli'odir of god / and Tirgyne vndeflfouled ! 1
-^'"* blisf id queene / of queenes Emperice !
Pray to chriit for Preve f OT me / bat am in «ynne mowled.
To god thy sone / punysshei' of vice,
pat of his mercy / thogti fat I be nyce, 5
And negligent in keepyng of his lawe,
His hy mercy, my soule / vn-to him drawe. 7
[2]
Motberof Mtrcyi Modir of mercy / wey of indulgence, 8
pat of al vertu art superlatyf*,
Sauei* of vs by thy beneuolence,
Humble lady / mayde / modir and wyf !
Causer of pees / feyntei* of wo & stryf ! 12
Present my My prayei' vn-to thy sone presente,
Syn for my gilt I fully me repente. 14
[3]
[leaf M, back] Benlgnc confort of vs wrecches allc ! 15
Be with me at my Be at mvii endyng* / whan bat I shal deye I
death! ^ o / j
welle of pitee / vn-to thee I calk !
Ful of swetnesse / helpe me to weye
Ageyn the feend / fat with his handes tweye, 19
And his might, plukke wole / at the balance
To weye vs doun / keepe vs from his nusance ! 21
[4]
And, for thow art ensaumple of chastitee, 22
And of virgynes / worsship and honour,
Among all wommen blessid thow be 1
Pray Chriit to Kow speke and preye to our Sauueour, 25
X. TO THB BLVSSED VIRQIK, THE MOTHER OF QOD.
53
\)at he me sende swich grace & fauour,
pat al the hete of* hrennyng* Leccherie
He qwenche in me, hlessid maiden Marie I
[5]
hlessid lady / the cleer light of day 1
Temple of our lord / and roote of al goodnesse !
\)at hy prayers wypest cleene away
The lilthes of our synful wikkidnesse,
Thyn hand foorth putte / & helpe my distresse,
. And fro temptaciown deliure me
Of wikkid thoght / thurgh thy henignitee,
[6]
So J)at the wil f ulfild be of thy sone,
And pat of the holy goost he menlumyne.
Preye for vs, as ay hath be thy wone I
Lady / alle swiche emprises been thyne.
Swich an aduocatrice, who can dyuyne,
As thow / right noon / our greeues to redresse :
In thy refuyt is al our sikimesse.
[7]
Thow shapen art by goddes ordenance,
Mene for vs, flour of humilitee :
Ficche Jat, lady, in thy remembrawnce,
Lest our fo, the feend, thurgti his sotiltee,
\)at in awayt lyth for to cacche me,
Me ouercome with his treecherie.
Vn-to my soules helthe thow me gye !
[8]
Thow art the way of our Redempcioun,
For cpyst of thee hath deyned for to take
Flessh and eek* blood / for this entencioitn,
Vp on a crois to die for our sake :
His precious deeth made the feendes qwako,
And cristen folk* for to reioisen enere.
From his mercy / helpe / vs we nat disseucre I
26 qwenoh all lust in
met
28
29
33
35
36
40
42
43
50
Deliver me from
wioked thought* I
[leaf 35]
Pray for ui, as
thou art wont !
47
. f. Guide me to ray
49 soul'i health!
54
Let ua not depart
00 (irom His mercy I
TLT/t^l.t (l a f( -.n Z^*^-/ ^^ ^^^y
54
X. TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN, THE MOTHER OF GOD.
[leaf 35, back]
Remember thjr
woe at Hit Croat,
and that He died
to save mankind.
Thou art destind
to heal our SouU.
Blessed be thy
womb and teats !
Deaf 86]
Thou canst get
forgiveness for all
our sins 1
By thee, the gates
of Hell are
broken.
[9]
Tendrely remembre on the wo & peyne 57
)>at thow souffridist in his passio^m,
Whan watir & blood, out of thyn yen tweyne,
For sorwe of him, ran by this cheekes doun 1
And syn thow knowest fat the enchesoun 6 1
Of his death was / for to saue al man kynde,
Modir of mercy, J)at haue in thy mynde ! 63
[10]
Wei oghten we thee worshipe & honure, 64
Paleys of Cryst / flour of virginitee !
Syn vp on thee / was leid the charge & cure.
The lord to berc, of heuene & eerthe & see.
And alle thynges J)at ther ynne be. 68
Of heuenes kyng, thow art predestinat
To hele our soules of hir seek estat. 70
[11]
Thy maidens wombe, in which our lord lay, 71
Thy tetes / whiche him yaf to sowke also
To our sauynge / be they blessid ay !
The birthe of Cryst / our thraldom putte vs fro,
loie & honour / be now & eueremo 75
To him and thee / fat vn-to libertee.
Fro thraldam, han vs qwit / blessid be yee I 77
[12]
By thee, lady, y-makid is the pees 78
Betwixt Angels and men / it is no doute.
Blessid be god, fat swich a modir chees !
Thy gracious bountee spredith al aboute.
Thogh fat oure hertes steeme been, & stoute, 82
Thow to thy sone canst be swich a mene.
That an our giltes he foryeueth clene. 84
[13]
Paradys yates opned been by thee, 85
And broken been the yates eek« of helle I
By thee / the world restored is pardee I
X. TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN, THE MOTHER OF GOD.
55
Of al vertu / thow art the spryng & welle !
By thee, al bountee / shortly for to telle,
In heuene & eerthe, by thyn ordenance
Parfomed is / our soules sustenance !
[14]
Now, syn thow art of swich auctoritee,
Lady pitous, virgyne wemmelees,
pat our lord god nat list to werne thee
Of thy requeste / I wot wel / doutelees
Than spare nat / f oorth thee to putte in prees
To preye for vs, Crystes modir deere !
Benygnely wole he, thyn axyng* heere.
[15]
Apostle, and freend familier of Cryst,
And his y-chosen virgyne / seint Ion /
Shynynge apostle / & euangelyst,
And best beloved among hem echon !
With our lady, preye I thee to been oon,
\)at vn-to Cryst shal for vs alle preye :
Do thus for vs / Crystes derlyng, I seye !
[16]
Marie & Ion, heuenely gemwes tweyne !
ligfites two, shynynge in the presence
Of our lord god / now do your bysy peyne
To wasshe away our cloudeful offense.
So J)at we mowen make resistence
Ageyn the feend / & make him to bewaille
pat your preyere may so moche auaille.
[17]
Yee been the two, I knowe verraily.
In which the fadir god gan edifie
(By his sone oonlygeten specially)
To him an hows / wheriore I to yow crye,
* Beeth leches of our synf ul maladie !
Preyeth to god / lord of* misericorde,
Oure olde giltes / fat he nat recorde ! '
89
91
92
96
Praj for us ; and
Christ will grant
98 thy prayer 1
99 [leaf 36, back]
Saint John ! Join
103 Ottr Lady in pray-
ing to Christ for
ns!
105
106 Mary and John,
110 help us against
the DevU !
112
113
117 Cure our sinAil
malady 1
119
56 XI. TO THB DUKE OF BEDFORD, REGENT OF FRANCE.
[18]
Beour protoo. * Be yee oure help and our protecciotin, 120
tion I
Syn, for meryt of your virginitee,
The priuilege of his dileccio?m
In yow confermed god, vp on a tree
Hangyng* / and vn-to oon of yow seido he 124
Eight in this wyse / as I reherce can,
" Beholde ! heere, lo / thy sone, womman ! " * 126
[19]
' And to )>at othir / " heer thy modir, lo ! " ' 127
Than preye I thee / ))at for the greet swetnesse
Of the hy loue / fat god, twixt yow two,
"With his mowth made / and of his noblesse
Conioyned hath yow / thurgh his blisfulnesse, 131
Help tM in oar As modir and sone, helpe vs in our neede !
need !
And, for our giltes, make oure h^rtes bleede ! 133
[20]
Vn-to yow tweyne / I my soule commende, 134
OMarj and John, Marie and lohn, for my sauuacioun !
Helpith me ))at I may my lyf amende !
help me to make Helpith now / bat the habitaciotm
myheartthe ^ ' '
dweiungofthe Of the holy goost, our recreacioz^n, 138
Holy Ghost I
Be in niyn herte now and eueremore !
And of my soule / wasshe away the sore ! Amen !
^..^^^^^^(f'^ m
Ce feugt tttsa en le Iture lie xam^eiffneut
3o||an, lorg nwixati I ore IC^egent lie
JFrance & ©uc lie Beliforli*
[In 5-mea8ure nines, ahaby hcbbcJ]
[1]
[leaf 87, back] T7n-to the rial egles excellence,
Be<iford?iVre-' ' I> humble Clerc, with al hertes humblesse,
XI. TO THE DUKE OF BEDFORD, REGENT OF FRANCE.
57
This book ^ presente / & of yowr reuerence
Byseeche I pardofi and foryeuenesse,
j)atf of myn ignorance & lewdenesse,
Nat haue I write it in so goodly wyse
As J)at me ogfite vn-to your worthynesse.
Myn yen / hath custumed bysynesse
So daswed / fat I may no bet souffyse.
[2]
I dreede lest pat my maister Massy,
\)at is of fructuous intelligence,
Whan he beholdith how vnconnyngly
My book is metrid / how raw my sentence
How feeble eek been my colours f his prudence
Shal sore encombrid been of my foliQ ;
But yit truste I / ]>at his beneuolence
Compleyne wole myn insipience
Secreetly / & what is mis / rectifie.
[3]
Thow book* / by licence of my lordes grace,
To thee speke I / and this I to thee seye :
I charge thee / to shewe thow thy face
Befom my seid Maistir / & to him preye
On my behalue / ]>at he peise and weye
What myn entente is, fat I speke in thee.
For rethorik* hath hid fro me the keye
Of his tresor / nat deyneth hir nobleye
Dele with noon so ignorant as me !
Cest tout.
•ent this Bnlade,
tho it it not f^ood,
because my wurk
has dazed my eyes*
Mr. Massy too
13
will see its weak:-
ness, bat will ^I
trust)
18 set it right.
19
22
26
Let him weigh my
intent, and excuse
the want of
Rhetoric
[leaf 88]
> The poem, fol. 87 b. to Monsr. Johan (afterwards Duke of
Bedford), and that, fol. 39 b. to the Prince (afterwards Henry
V), were both sent with the book of the Regimen of Princes, and
are added at the end of that book in MS. Reg. 17, D. XVIII.
[Brit. Mus.] . . . T. Tyrwhitt (Letter pasted in the MS.).
This poem is not in MS. Beg. 17, D. YI. which the late Thos.
Wright printed for the Roxburghe Club in 1860. That has
only, at end, the poem on p. 61, below.
7 0/ <^ ? ^ ( f ^ " ^ / W ■ ^'^^r { \y 1^ 1 1
58 XII. TO THB CHANCBLLOR, AROHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY.
^[iSalalie to tns i^orlr tl^e Ctanrellor,]
[About 1407 — 1410. In S-raeasure eighta, oioi, hUx-l
[1]
My Lord,d0
give me a Patent
to get my arreara
paid I
Yoa've alwaya
been a good lord
tome.
[leaf 88, back]
Do bear me
fitvoor now !
rir in god, benigne and reuerent,
My lord the Chanceller / wtt/; al humblesse
I, your seruant at your commandement,
Byseche vn-to your excellent noblesse, 4
})at my patente bere may witnesse
That myne arrerages been granted me :
Eight as your staf / your warant wole expr^sse /
Byseeche I, y, yow so my patente be. 8
[2]
I truste in yow / for euere or this han yee
Be my good lord / and now to stynte / I gesse.
Applied is nat your benignitee,
Specially / syn my poore symplesse 12
Nat hath o£fendid your hy worthynesse
Wityngly ; but myn herte is euere bent
To sheete at yow good wil / in soothfastnesse,
Thei'-in am I ful hoot & ful feruent. 16
[3]
my lord gracious, wys, and prudent !
To me, your Clerc / beeth of your grace free !
Let see now cacche a lust and a talent
Me to haue in your fauour & cheertee. 20
Thei'-on wayte I / 1 wayte on yowr bountee,
That to so manye han shewid gentillesse.
Let me^ no stepchyld been / for I am he
That hope haue in yow, confort & gladnesse. 24
€t$t tout.
^ MS. me be.
J^\^CLAJu^2yLL^
>^ ^ ^3
ut
^i-y
XIII. BALADB AND BOWNDEL TO MAISTER 80MEB.
59
[XIII.]
Cestejs Balaie & cfjanceon engugant<?5
feurent faitejs a mon iWeigtre .!&♦ Somer,
q^flut il egtott Soujtregorer.^
[Written between Michaelmas and Christmas, 1407 (?). In
5-measure eights, ahah^ hc})c,'\
[I]
The Sonne, witA his hemes of hrightnesse,
To man so kyndly is, & norisshynge,
})at lakkyng* it / day nere hut dirknesse :
To day he yeueth his enlumynynge, 4
And causith al fruyt for to wexe & sprynge r
Now, syn fat sonne^ may so moche auaiH,
And moost with Somer is his soioumynge,
That sesomi hounteuous we wole assaiH. 8
[2]
Glad cheerid Somer / to your gouernaille 9
And grace / we suhmitte al our willynge !
To whom yee freendly heen / he may nat failla
But he shal haue his resonahle axynge : 12
Aftir your good lust, he the sesonynge
Of our fniytes / this laste Mighelmesse,
The tyme of yeer was of our seed ynnynge,
The lak of which / is our greet heuynesse. 16
[3]
We truste vp-on your freendly gentillesse, 17
Ye wole vs helpe / and heen our suppo[rt]aille.
Now yeue vs cause ageyn this cristemesse
For to he glad / o* lord / whethir our taille 20
Shal soone make vs with our shippes saille
To port salut f if yow list / we may synge,
* Somer was made a Baron of the Exchequer on Nov. 8, 1408.
See him calld Sir Henry Somer, on p. 64.
3 MS. senne.
The Ban that
noarishes man
comes most m
summer.
Deaf 89]
Then, Somer«
get OS oar
Midiaelmas pay !
Make us glad by
Chriftmast
60 XUI. BOWNDBL TO H. SOMER, SUB-TREASURBR.
And elles, moot vs bothe mourne & waille,
Til yoMr fauour vs sonde releeuynge. 24
w
We 4, Hooci0v«, We, youi seiuantes, Hoccleue & Baillay, 25
ofTordel pray you Hethe & Offorde, yow beseeche & preye,
paw, **""^ 'Haasteth our heruest / as soone as yee may 1 '
For fere of stormes / our wit is aweye ; 28
Were our seed Inned / wel we migliten pleye,
And Ys desporte / & synge / & make game,
and then well sing And yit this rowndel shul we synge & seye
In trust of yow / & honour of your name. 32
you this
[5]
Romndeu [Ifitotoulirl, OF CfjEuceon to Somer*]
S[l : Burden,']
omer, ]>at rypest mannes sustenance
m^'bLild to ^i*-^ holsum hete of the Sonnes wannnesse,
bieM thee. j^ kynde of man thee holden is to blesse ! (3) 35
[2]
Ay thankid be thy freendly gouemance,
and thy gud look. And thy fressh look* of mirthe & of gladnesse ! (5) 37
Somer &C (^-"8)
[3]
which cheers «u To heuy folk* / of thee the remembrazince
Is salue & oynement to hir seeknesse.
For why / we thus shul synge in Cristemesse, (11) 40
Somer &C (12—14.)
,.^yV ii ?/t^(. i^r
kojjvjva. <5.WlU <^\"- "^*'*" ™
FRINOE HBHBT.
Cegte ftalalie engugante feugt mfee en le
fin liu liure iel Ifilegtment teg princes.
[See note 1, abuv, p. 57 ; and p. 195-6| of T. Wright's edition
of the Be Regimine (about 1412 a.d.)> Roxb. Club, 1860.
In 5-mea8ure eights, dbdb, bcbe.]
[1]
Olitil book* / who yaf tliee hardynesse
Thy wordes to pronounce in the presence
Of kynges ympe and Princes worthynesse,
Syn thow al nakid art of eloquence 1 4
And why approchist thow his excellence,
Vnclothid, sauf tliy kirtil bare also 1
I am right seur, his humble pacience
Thee yeueth hardynesse to do so. 8
[2]
But thyng woot I wel ; go wher thow go, 9
I am so pryuee vn-to thy sentence,
Thow haast, and art / and wilt been eueremo,
To his hynesse of swich beneuolence I 12
Thogh thow nat do him due reuerence
In wordes / thy cheertee nat is the lesse.
And if lust be, to his magnificence,
Do by thy reed / his welthe it shal witnesse ! 1 6
[3]
Byseeche him, of his gracious noblesse, 17
Thee holde excusid of thyn innocence
Of* endytynge / and with hertes humblesse,
If any thyng thee passe of negligence, 20
Byseeche him of mercy and indulgence,
And J)at, for tliy good wU^ / he be nat fo
To thee / pat al seist of loues feruence !
pat knowith god^ / whom no thyng is hid fro. 24
Cest tout.
> hert— ed. Wright (MS. Reg. 17, D. VI.) « he-ed. Wright.
61
Book, who gave
thee boldnees to
go before the
the Prince of
Wales r
Hie patience.
Thou art Aill of
good will to him,
tho thy wordi be
poor.
Pray him to ex-
cuse thy ignor*
ance.
as It speaks from
love, which God
knows.
I
62 ^V. BALADB TO HSNBT V, FOB MONBT.
[XV.]
% Item au iClog, q«e iieu pariioint I
[1]
o King, give as TTictorious Kyng, our lord ful gracious,
* We, humble lige men to your hynesse,
Meekly byseechen yow (o kyng pitous !)
Tendre pitee haue on our sharp distresse ; 4
[leaf 40, back] For, but the flood of your rial largesse
three«,inemoneyl j,j^^^^ yp On VS / gold hath V8 in Swich hate,
])at of his loue and cheertee the scantnesse
Or else we mast
trot into Newgate. Wole arte vs three ^ to trotte vn-to Newgate. 8
[2]
Benigne lige lord ! o hauene & yate 9
Of our coufort ! let your hy worthynesse
Oure indigences softne / & abate 1
In yow lyth al / yee may our greef redresse ! 12
We don't ask for The somme ))at we in our blH expresse,
much.
Is nat excessii ne outrageous ;
And wewe workt Our loug s^ruice also berith witnesse,
it!**" **' We han for it be ful laborious. 16
[3]
O lige lord, fat han be plenteuoos 17
Vn-to your Liges / of yowr grace algate,
Don't stop your Styutith uat uow for to be bounteuous
bounty to your _,
old servants. To VS, your scruautz of the olde date ! 20
God woot we han been ay, eerly & late,
Louynge lige men to your noblesse.
and let us turn Lat nat the strook* of indigence vs mate,
paupers I
O worthy Prince ! mirour of prowesse ! 24
Cest tout.
* There were 4 : Hoccleve, Baillay, Hethe and 0£forde, on p.
60, 1. 25-6.
:u
t.cc.a^C' ^ ^ ^2>j< M^y
XTI. BAUDB TO MT MAISTXR OABPIINTIIB.
63
8
[XVL]
[Balabe to tng tnaiister Carpenter. J
[In 5-measure sevens, ababb, ee.]
[1]
Clear 41]
t A. d B. ft C. d
D. fto. [Credi-
tors].
Y Cestabalade
feutt tendremait
considere, k bone«
ment execute.
Mr. Carpenter,
I can't pay my
creditors.
6
Help me I
8
They want their
money.
ee heer, my maister Carpenter,^ I yow preyo,
How many chalenges ageyn me be ;
And I may nat deliure hem by no weye,
So me werreyeth coynes scarsetee,
That ny Cousin is to necessitee.
For why, vn-to yow seeke I for refut,
Which fat of confort am ny destitut.
[2]
Tho men / whos names I aboue expresse,
Fayn wolden fat they and I euene were :
And so wolde I / god take I to witnesse !
I woot wel, I moot heere / or elles where
Kekne of my dettes / & of hem answere.
Myn lierte, for the dreede of god & awe,
Fayn wolde it qwyte / & for constreynt of la we.
[3]
But, by my trouthe / nat wole it betyde !
And therfore, as faire as I can & may,
With aspen herte / I preye hem abyde,
And me respyte / to sum lenger day.
Some of hem grante / and some of hem seyn * nay 1*19 some won't giv
. , T 1 J *i • 1 n»« ^roe. This
And I so sore ay dreede an aftir clap,
That it me reueth many a sleep & nap. 21 stops my sleeping.
[4]
If fat it lykid / vn-to your goodnesse, 22 [leaf «i, bocit]
To be betwixt [hem] and me, swich a mene
1 * Carpenter ' is written over an erasure, the original having probably another
name, to whose owner it had been sent, as it was doubtless afterwards sent to
other moneyful folk. Carpenter was no doubt the famous town-clerk of London
(1417-38), its M.P. and benefactor &c., bom 1370, died 1441.
12
U
And I do wish I
could pay em.
1 5 But, upon my
word, I can't.
64
XVII. THB COURT OF OOOD COMPANY, TO H. SOMER.
Pray keep me oat As ])at I mig&te kept be ho duiesse f
Myn lieuy thog&tes wolde it voide clene.
As your good plesance is / this thyng demene !
How wel ))at yee doon / & how soone also,
I suflfrei may in qwenchynge of my wo.
Cest tout.
26
28
[XVIL]
-TO (\ A V M-, r-s --T-^ ^^8te balaSe enjsugante tmst, par la Court
l^MH^^ ^TD ^^ ^^^^ commit, tnmin a lonure
[9cxNO^ 4V>i^ ^J^ > legd)equer,2 & &n tit la Xikft
y^.^WM^ e^O<JiL_ Court.
C3 [After 1408. In 5-measure sevens, dbabb, cc.]
[1]
TTTorshipf ul sii^, and our freend special,
Cod leaf 41, back]
Sir Henry, your
letter wante us
to start a finesh
custom.
[leaf 42]
Ton tell us that
our Club in the
Temple
was founded to
spend a lot of
money.
1
8
And felawe, in this cas / we calle yow.
Your Icire sent vn-to vs / cleerly / al
We haue red / & vndirstanden how
It is no wit to your conceit, as now,
Vse the rule f oorth as we been Inne ;
But al an othir rule to begynne :
[2]
Rehercynge how, in the place of honour.
The Temple / for solace / & for gladnesse,
Wher as nat oghte vsid been errour
Of ouer mochil waast or of excesse,
First wern we f owndid to vse largesse
In our despenses / but for to exceede
Eeson / we han espyed / yee nat beede.
1 It's 'souffre * before, p. 60, 1. 20 ; 54, 1. 58, and at 68, L 61.
* He was to come and preside at the Court's dinner on the
Thursday following. May 1.
12
U
XVIt TBB COOBt OF 60Ot> OOltPAltY, tO S. SOltKR.
65
H Yee allegge eek* / how a rule hath be kept
Or this / which was good / as yee haue herd seyn ;
But it now late / cessid hath, & slept ;
Which good yow thynkith / were vp take ageyn :
And but if it so be / our Court certeyn,
Nat likly any whyle is to endure ;
As hath in mow the, many a creature.
[4]
Yee wolden, fat in conseruacioun
Of oui^ honowr / & eek* for our profyt,
pat thentente of oui* old f undacioun
Obserued mighte been / & to )>at plyt
Be broght as it was first / & passe al qwyt
Out of the daunger of* outrageous waast,
Lest with scorn <fe repreef, feede vs swich taast.
[5]
Vn-to fat ende, .vj*. shippes grete,^
To yeue vs ban yee grauntid & behight,
To bye ageyn our dyner, flour or whete ;
And besyde it / as reson wole, & right,
Paie your lagh / as dooth an othir wight,
\>at by mesure rulith him, and gyeth.
And nat as he / whom outrage maistrieth.
[6]
In yowr le^re / contened is also,
\)at if vs list to chaunge in no maneere
Our newe gyse, ne twynne ther-fro f
The firste day of May, yee wole appeere,
(J5at day yee sette be with vs in feere,)
1 5 Also, that we were
onoe moderate,
19
21
22
29
33
35
36
and we ought to
be 10 again.
2 6 and have no out-
rageous waste.
28
40
^ The great Noble of Edward III. stampt with a Ship, in
which he sat, bearing his shield on his left arm, and his sword
in his right hand, was issued in 1344, in honour of his naval
victory over the French, off Sluys, on Midsummer Day 1340.
Its worth was 6«. Sd. The Ship lasted thro* all our Kings to the
early days of Q. Elizabeth. The half-Noble also had the Ship ;
the quarter-Noble, not. See Ruding, p. 219.
HOCCLEVB, M.P. — I. j.
[leaf 42, back]
You've promist to
give us 6 great
Nobles to buy
flour or wheat,
and pay your
score too.
And, if we'll not
alter our new
fashion, you'll
dine with us on
the 1st of May.
66 XVII. THE COURT OP GOOD COMPANY, TO H. SOMER.
And to keepe it / yee wole be reedy :
This is theffect of your leftre soothly. 42
m
We answer: nRo the whiche, in this wyse we answere ; 43
You're not bound A Excesse foi to do / be yee nat bownde,
to be extravagant.
Ne noon of vs / but do as we may here :
Vp-on swich rule, we nat vs ne grownde.
ThoyoaVe plenty Yee been dlscreet / thogh yee in good habownde 47
of money do as # «=» w o
you think proper! Dooth as yow thinkith for your honestee !
Yee, and we ati, am at our libertee. 49
[8]
Deaf 4S] At our laste dyner / wel knowen yee 60
At our last Dinner -j^ cm. :i i* •!. •
By our Stywardes limitacioun,
(As custume of our Court axith to be,)
And ay at our congregacion
Obserued / left al excusacion, 54
you wer wamd to Warned yee wem / for the dyner arra ve
provide dinner foe o t *
next Thursday. Ageyn thorsday next, & nat it delaye. 56
[9]
Pray don't let us Be yow nat holde auysid in swich wyse 57
Snner!^ As for to make vs destitut, ^at day^
Of our dyner / take on yow fat empryse.
Put down excess, K youT lust be / dryueth excesse away.
Of wyse men / mochil / folk* lerne may : 61
Discrecion mesurith euery thyng :
Despende af tir your plesance & lykyng* ! 63
[10]
Be a pattern to us, Eusaumpleth VS / let Seen / & vs miroure ; 64
As fat it seemeth good to your prudence,
Reule fat day / for the thank* shal be youre ;
and let us drinic Dooth as yow list be drawe in consequence ; ^
only what you i\r . , . . /jo
please, H e trusteu in your wys experience ; do
But keepith wel your tourn / how so befalle,
Dinner we expect! On thorsday next / on which we awayte alle. 70
Cest tout.
* Have as much wine drawn as you think fit
XVIII. AN ENGLISHT BALADB TO THB VIRGIN AND CHRIST. 67
[XVIII.]
€tfitt &alalie ensusantc ft\mt txmsUAtt
au commanljemmt Xte mon Hetetrc
[In 5-measare eights, abab, bebe.]
tlMfiS, back]
[IJ
A 8 fat I walkid in the monthe of May
-^^ Besyde a groue in an heuy musynge,
Floures dyuerse I sy, ngfit fress^ and gay,
And briddes herde I eek* lustyly synge,
fiat to myn herte yaf a confortynge.
But euere o thogfet me stang vn-to the herte,
J)at dye I sholde / & hadde no knowynge
Whanne, ne whidir, I sholde hennes sterte.
[2]
Thynkynge thus / byfore me I say
A crois depeynted with a fair ymage.
I thoghte I nas but asshes and foul clay :
Lyf passith as a shadwe in euery age ;
And my body yeueth no better wage
Than sjmne / which the soule annoyeth sore.
I preyde god / mercy of myn outrage.
And shoop me / him to offend e no more.
[3]
On god to thynke / it yeueth a delyt,
Wei for to doon / & f roo synne withdrawe ;
But for to putte a good deede in respyt /
Harmeth / swich delay is nat worth an hawe.
Wolde god, by my speeche and my sawe,
I mighte him and his modir do plesance,
F 2
In May I walkt in
apx>ve,
and thought I
knew not when I
8 ahoold die.
I law a Craciflz,
12
16
17
and prajd God fbr
mercy.
20
Would God I
might please liim!
68 XYIII. AN BKOUSHT BALADB TO THE VIROIN AND 0HRI8T.
Mother of Jesus!
Qrtnt me f^race to
be Tlrtuous !
Jeeniif with
contrite heart I
crave thy pity i
Lady, I trust by
thy prayers to be
•aved.
[leaf 44» back]
Lord, I thanlc tliee
Who dledst for
my guilt !
And, to my meryt, folwe goddes lawe,
And of mercy, housbonde a pumeance !
^Modir of Ihesn, (verray god and man,
])at by his deeth / nctorie of the feend gat,)
Hane it in mynde / thow blessid womman,
For the wo / which vn-to thyn herte sat
In thy sones torment / forgeete it nat !
Grante me grace / to vertu me take ,2
Synne despyse, & for to hate al that
That may thy sone & thee displesid make !
[5]
Mercyful loid Hie^u / me heere, I preye,
\)at right vnkynde / & fals am vn-to thee !
I am right swich ; I may it nat withseye.
With salte teeres crane I thy pitee,
And herte contryt / mercy haue on me
J)at am thy recreant caytif traitour !
By my dissertes, oghte T dampned be ;
But ay thy mercy heetith me socour.
[6]
Lady benigne / our souereyn refuyt !
Seur trust haue I, to ban, by thy prayeere,
Of strength / & confort, so vertuous fruyt,
That I shal sauf be, Crystes modir deere !
My soules ship, goueme thow, & steere !
Let me nat slippe out of thy remembrance,
Lest, whan fat I am rype vn-to my beere,
The feend me ^aill6, & haue at the outrance.
[7]
To thanke thee, lord / hyly holde I am.
For my gilt / nat for thyn / fat woldest die.
Who souffred euere swich a martirdam.
Yit thy deeth gat of the feend the maistrie.
24
25
28
32
33
36
40
41
44
48
49
52
1 This begins the alternate stanzas to the Virgin and Christ
• To betake myaelf to Virtue.
XVIIT. AN BNGLISHT BALADE TO THE VIRGIN AND CHRISTT. 69
And ))at, al kynde of man may testifie.
! blessid be thy loue charitable,
\)at list so deerc our synful soules bie,
To make vs saiif / wher we weren dampnable.
[8]
Now thy socour / o Heuenes Emperice,
Fro me, wrecche, tome thow nat thy face !
Ther as I deepe wrappid am in vice,
Gretter neede haue I / thyn help to purchace 1
Vn-to the souerain leche, preye of grace,
j)at he my wowndes / vouchesauf to cure,
So ))at the feend my soule nat embrace,
Al thogh I haue agilt ouer mesuro.
[9]
Wei oghten we thee thanke, gracious lord,
f)at thee haast humbled, for to been allied
To vs ! auctour of pees and of concord,
On the crois was thy skin in-to blood died !
Alias ! why haue I me to synne applied 1
Why is my soule encombrid so with synne 1
Lord, in al fat I haue me mis gyed,
Foryeue / & of my trespas wole I blynne.
[10]
Lady / wardeyn of peple fro ruyne,
j)at sauedest Theoffe and many mo 1
Of thy grace, myn herte enlumyne I
For, as I trowe, & woot it wel also.
Thy might is me to warissho of my wo.
Of thy benigne sone, mercy craue,
Of fat forueyed haue I, & mis go.
His wil is thyn / my soule keepe & saue !
Lord Ihesvi Cryst / I axe of thee pardoun 1
1 yilde me to thee, lord souereyn !
My gilt confesse I / lord / make vnioun
Betwixt thee & my soule / for in veyn
Ble8s«d b« Thy
lovet
56
57 Empran of
Heaven, torn not
tliy fkce from me t
60
64
65 Oracioiu Lord,
68
CleAf45]
forgive me, and I
72 will atop my sin.
7 3 Lady, lUomine my
heart I
76
Crave mercy of
thy Son !
80
8 1 Lord JeeuB,
oonfeM my guilt.
Unite my soul to
84 Thine!
70 XVIII. AN BNOLISHT BALADE TO THE YIBGIN AND CHRIST.
Mother of MerQj,
Sapphire I
Deaf 4fi, back]
1 eaU to thee to
keep me from
blame.
Christ, I shall be
damd unless
thon helpet me !
Lady, let not
the Fiend oppress
me at death !
Iiord, I watch to
gain thy mert^ I
[leaf 461
My tyme baue I despendid in certeyn.
Some of the dropes of thy precious blood
\)at the crois made as weet as is the reyn,
Despende on me, lord merciable Ss good 1
[12]
Lady ! fat clept art * modir of mercy,*
Noble saphir^/ to me fat am ful lame
Of vertu, and am ther-to enemy,
Thy welle of pitee, in thy sones name, "
Lete on me flowe / to pourge my blame.
Lest in to Despeir fat I slippe & falla !
For my seurtee to keepe me fro blame.
Of pitee, mirowr, I vn-to thee calle !
[13]
Synne, fat is to enerj vertu fo.
Betwixt god & me / maad hath swich debat,
\)at my soule is danipnyd for eneremo.
But if fat mercy / which hath maad thacat
Of mannes soule, pat was violat
By likerous lust & disobedience.
For which our lord Ihe^u was incamat.
Me helpe make the feend resistence !
[U]
Lady ! fat art of grace spryng & sours.
Port in peril / solas in heuynesse !
Of thy wont bontee, keepe alway the cours !
Lat nat the feend, at my deeth me opp^'esse !
Tome the crois to me, noble Princesse,
Which vn-to euery soor is the triacle !
Thogh my dissert be naght / of thy goodnesse,
Ageyn the feendes wrenches, make obstacle !
[15]
Lord, on thy grace & pitee / myn herte ay
Awaitith / to purchace thy mercy.
Alias ! I caytif / wel I moume may,
Syn the feend serued often sythe haue y.
88
89
92
96
97
100
104
105
108
112
113
116
^^. ^cL. (/A
^xy-^jOb^iA^
128
129
XYin. AN ENGUSHT BALADE TO THE VIBOIN AND CHRIST.
It reewith me / do wtt/t me graciously,
For I purpose to stynte of my synnes.
What ageyn thee / mis take hath my body,
My soule keepe fro the feendes gymies !
[16]
Blessid virgyne, ensample of al vertu,
\>ai peere hast non / of wommanhode flour !
For the loue of thy sone, our Lord Ihe^,
Strengthe vs to doon him seruico & honour !
Lady ! be mene vn-to our Sauueour,
Jjat our soules fat the feend waytith ay
To hente / & wolde of hem be possessour,
Ke sese hem nat in the vengeable day !
[17]
The fless^ / the world / & eek* the feend my fo,
My wittes alle han at hir retenance :
They to my soule doon annoy & wo.
For why, Lord, dreede I me of thy vengeance.
"With mercy, my soule in-to blisse enhance !
Worthy marchant ! saue thy marchandie,
Which fat thow boghtest with dethes penance !
Lat nat the feend haue of vs the maistrie !
[18]
Excellent lady ! in thy thog&t impresse
How & why thy chyld soufiBrid his tormente !
Preye him to haue on vs swich tendrenesse,
Jjat in the feendes net we be nat hent 1
At the day of his steeme iugement,
Lat nat him leese fat he by deeth boghte !
I woot wel / ther-to hath he no talent :
Mynge him ther-on / for thee so to doon / oghte !
[19]
Whan in a man, synne growith & rypith,
The fruyt of it is ful of bittimesse ;
But penitence cleene away it wypith.
And to the soule yeueth greet swetnesse.
71
Keep me from Um
120 DeTiresnareel
121 BleMed Virgin,
124 strengthen ne to
serve Christ I
132 Lord, lift my eoul
to bliss!
136
137 nMr46,bftck]
Lady, pray thy
Child to save us
from the Devil's
net I
140
144
145
148
\m kx^\Ot\(I
72
Chrlft the
Jadge,
mix Mer<7^ with
thy Judgment !
"TroLAAistWv
Queen,
152
153
pray for as, and
[leaf 47]
bring n« to bllu !
TOL THK UBTTKR OF CUPID TO LOVERS, HIS BUBJBCIB.
O steerne luge / with thy rightwisnesse,
Medle thy mercy / and shewe vs fauour !
Yn-to our sooles, maad to thy liknesse,
Graunte pardoun of our stynkyng errour !
[20]
glorious qweene / to the repentaunt
pat art refuyt / socour and medecyne !
Lat nat the foule feend make his auaunt,
Jjat he hath thee byreft any of thyne !
Thurgh thy prayere, thow thy sone enclyne
His merciable grace / on vs to reyne !
Be tendre of vs / o thow blissid virgyne !
For if thee list / we shuln to blisse atteyne.
Cest t0ttt.
[End of the Phillipps MS.]
156
160
cmr^u
/4in<A,
[XIX.]
TO IVa ^.. »-w isv . ^_ - [Fairfax MS. 16 (Bodl. Lib. about 1430-40), leaf 40.]
(lO?.^ "^iKi " ^^^^^^ CupiUints, iei Slmatons/ itrecta
(^aajuva. fcV3JUL sKJbX 8u6l)iiti« guts amatorifi^^.^
^ [In 68 five-measure seyens, aibahh, cc.]
[1]
IT Cupido^ / vn-to whos* comaundement 1
the gen til kynrede / of goddis *an hy,^
And pepill infernal / ben obedient,
And mortel folke al / serven besely,
^The goddesse sone / Sythera soothly,* 5
to al[le] thoo / that to our deyte
greet my subjecte. ben sugctes^ / hertly gretyng sende we ! 7
1-1 The Lettro of Cupide, god of Loue, B (Bodley MS. 638, leaf 38 bk.)
« Amoria T. ^Tanner MS. 346, If. 41). » Cvpide B. * quhois S. (But few of
the after variations of spelling are given.) "-^ onely S. (MS. Arch. Seld. B.
24, If. 211 bk.) *-« of the . . . oonly F, The goddesse Cithera sofi sothly S.
' subditis S*
I, Cnpid, whom
gods, devils, and
men obey,
H^^
XIZ. THE LEITXR OF OUFID TO LOTBBS, HIS SDBJECT8.
73
[2]
In general, we ^wol[len] / that ye knowe,^
that ladies of honour / and reuerence,
and other gen til wymen / ^ haven) sowe^
^suche seed of^ compleynt / in our audience,
of men ^that do hem* / outrage and offence,
that yt oure eeres greuetfi / for^ to here ;
so pitouse is theflfecte / of this* matere.
[3]
^Passyng al londes / on) the litel^ He
that cleped ys albyoh)^ / they most compleyn) :
^they seye, that there® ys / croppe and rote of gile :
^^soo konne tho men / dyssymule[n] ^® and feyne"
with stondyng dropes / ^^on her eyen tweyne,^^
When that her hertes / felitfi no distresse,
to blynden women) / wyth her doublenesse.
[4]
^8 Her wordes spoken ben / so syghyngly,^^
wyth so pitouse ^^chere / and contynaunce,^*
that euery wyghf / that meneth tru[e]ly,
Demeth ^^that they in hert / haue suche^* grevaunce.
8
12
14
15
[leaf Mi back]
I tell you that
gentlewomen
have eo oom-
plaind to me of
men'* oatragea
on thenif
that my ears are
grievd.
Above-«U, in
England
men aham crying
19
21 to deceive women.
22 Theyaigh,
look pitiftil,
26
28
29
and say they'll
die if their ladies
don't grant 'em
fitvors.
they sey, so importable / ys her penaunce,
that but her lady / lust to schew hem grace,
they ryght* anoone / [mote]^* sterven in the place.
[5]
" A, lady myn)," they sey / " I yowe ensure,
^'^as dotfi^'' me grace / and I shal ever be —
while that my lyfe / may Ia8t[en]i8 and endure —
to yow as humble / and lowe in ecfi degre
as possible ys / and kepe al thing ^® secre
^1 will that know Je S. '-* haue we S. *-» Herd the trew S. *-^ that
donne thamme S : F reads wymen, as this MS. * so S. • thare S. ''—'^ And
passid aU ye boundis of ye S. * britanTie S. *— * Thai seyn thare In S.
10—10 Sq can thir men dissvmileii S. " seyn B. ^*— ^* In thare eyne tweyiie
S ; in, Speght 1602. "^^—^ Thir wordis ben spoken generaly S. "— ^* achere
and countenance S. ^*— *' In hert that thai haue high S. " S inserts most ;
Speght ' must. ' i7_i7 ^ ^o S. i« lesten S. »» thing A (Ashbumham MS^ S,
tning as F. S omits as.
and that they'll
be as humble
and secret as
33 possible.
74
XIX. THE LETTER OF CUPID TO LOVERS, HIS SUBJECTS.
Bat it's hftrd to
know a man'*
heart.
Women are
deceivd by false
appearance.
Women beliere
men, and grant
'em favours to
save their lives.
35
36
40
42
43
And when the
man has posses-
sion of the woman,
he runs after any
other in the town,
Curse him I
rygfit as youre seluen^ ly8t[e] / that I do ;
and elles myn^ herte^ / mote brest a-two."
[6]
flful herd *yt is* to know / a manys hert ;
for outwarde may ^no man)^ / the trouthe deme ;
*when worde out of his mouthe / may non astert,^
but ^yt by reson) semed / euery wight to'^ queme ;
* so is hit seyde® of h6rt / as hit wolde seme.
0^ feythful woman / ful of ^^ Innocence,
thou arte deceyved / be fals apparence I
m
^^By processe ^^moveth / oft woman ^^ ^{^^ .
wenyng aP^ thing were / as [Jat] thise^* meii) sey,
they graunte hem grace / of hir benignite,
^5 for that men shulde nat / for her sake^* dey ;
and with good hert[e] / set hem in the wey
of blesful loue / kepe yt yf they^* konne :
thus other while ^^ women) beth y-wonne.
[8]
And whann this man) / the ^^pot hath be^^ the stele, 60
and fully is / in his possessyon),
with that woman / kepeth he not^^ to dele
2<> after, yif he may / fynde[n]2^ in the tovne
any woman / his blynde affeccion)
On 21 to bestowe[n] / euel^ mote he preve I
a man, for al his ^Sothes / is herde to leve 1 ^^
[9]
And for that euery fals man / hath a make,
(as vn-to euery wight / is lyght* to knowe,)
47
49
54
56
57
J selfe Sp., self F, seluen S. ^ that myii S. » herte Sp., hert F. *-* Is It
S. *— * non S. •— * Qnhaii word may non out of his mouth stert S. '— ^ it
be resouii any wicht sbuld S. ®— ® So It is S. B. * A S. ^® of Sp., om. F.
^ Stanzas 7-16. These verses are omitted in the Digby MS. 181. ^*— ^* womefi
movit of S, of T also. " that all S. " om. S. "-i« That they sehuld not for
thare loue S. *• he F, they S, ye F. ^' This othir quhilis S, And thus o. w.
F. 18-^8 the pot hath by A S, penne F. i» not S, no more F. 20-20 ^ft^.^ y^t
. . funden S. 21 On A, vn F. ^ foule S. 2a_23 nth . . . leue A S, beleue F.
g^ "/^ JU^t/.
XIX. THB LBTTBB OF CUPID TO L0VBB8, HIS SUBJECTS.
when this traytoure / this woman hath for-sake,
he ^fast[e] spedeth him^ / vn-to his felowe :
til he be there / his hert ys on) a lowe ;
hys fals deceyt / ^ [ne] may him not^ suffise,
but of hys treson) / telleth al^ the wise.*
[10]
Ys this a faire avaunte /is this honourel
a man him silfe ^accuse / thus, and diffamel^
^[Now] ys it good / confesse him^ / a traytoure,
and bringe a woman / to [a]^ sclaundrouse name,
and tel^ how he hir body / hathe do shame 1
No worshippe *may he thus / to him® conquere,
^^but grete esclaundre^® / vn-to him and here !
Ill]
^^[Vn] To hir ^^name yet / was^^ yt no reprefe,
for, al for vertu / was [it]^^ that she wroghf;
but he that brewed hath^* / al this myschefe,
that spake so faire / and falsly^^ inward thoghf,^^
his be the sclaundre / as y t be reson) oght* ;
and vn-to hir / [a] thank ^'^ perpetuel,
that in a nede^^ / ^^helpe can^® so wel !
[12]
^Al-thogh of men), thorgh sleyghf / and sotilte,2<>
a sely symple / and Innocent ^^ woman
22 betrayed ys / no wondre, sith the 22 cyte
of Troye / (as [fat] the story e telle 28 can)
be-trayed was / thorgh the 2* disceyt of man).
61
68
70
76
And goes aiid
tens his matot
63 allabontit.
64 Is this honour ?
a man to confess
he's a traitor,
and toll how he's
shamed a woman P
7 1 The woman's not
to be blamed.
75 but the man is.
77
78 No wonder that
an innocent
woman is
betrayd by man,
82 for Troy was.
'— ^ spedith hira fast S (spedeth = sped'th). 2— * ne / may nat him S. ' at S.
* gwyce T. *— * accusefi & defame S. •— • Now Is It good confess^ him S, ys
it g. c. h. selfe F. ' In a S, B om. * say S. •— • thus he may him self S.
10-To Bot gett a sclander S, disclaunder Sp. T. " St. 11-16 are st. 1 to 6 in the
Digby MS. ^^-w name Jhit is D, nay yet was F, nay B T, na S. ^^ om. T.
1* om. S. " so falsly D. " wrot S. ^' a thank S. ^ nede D, rede F, in soch
a need Sp. ^•— ^ can helpen men S. ^'^^ Allthouch that men by slicht &
subtiltee S, of men D, men F, through mens Sp. ^^ Ignorant A S. ^-*^ Be-
trays« no wonder Is, sen je S *3 tel F D, tell Sp., tellen S. ** om. D.
76
ZUL THB LBTTSR OF OUPID TO LOYBRS, HIS SUBJECTS.
and d0rtroyd.
Men are ever
ready for Msity ;
and set on)^ fire / and [al] dovne* ouer-throwe,
and fynaly dystroyed / as men knowe. 84
[13]
^Betraied men not' / Citees* grete, and kyngesi 85
what wyght is yt* / that kan shape remedye*
^ ay ens these falsely / purposed^ thinges 1
who can the crafte / suche craftes^ to espye,®
but ^^man, whos wytte / is euer redy^^ to aplye 89
to" thyng that ^Sgovneth / in-to [hy]i2 falshedel
Women, heth ware / of ^'mennys sleight,^^ j ^^^q \ 91
[14]
And furthermore / han these ^* men in vsage, 92
aiidwhen they've thst,^^ where [as] ^^they / not lykly hen^^ to^^ spede,
no diance them-
seiree, they fee a suche as [they] ^® ben / with a double visage
they procuren^^ / for to pursw her nede ;
he prayeth him, in his cause / to procede, 96
and largely *^guerdoneth / he his 20 trauaylle :
lytell wote^i wommen / how men hem^ assay lie ! 98
man to oonrt a
woman for them.
[15]
Another wretch '11 Another wrechcfi / vnto his felowe seythe :
tell a man in love,
that * thow fisshest fayre / she that the hath fired,
ys fals and 23 inconstant / and hath no fey the !
she, 24 for the rode of folke / ys so desired,^*
and 25 as an hors / fro day to day ys hired,
that when thow twynnest / fro hir companye,
another cometh / and blered ys thyn ye !
[16]
99
hia girl i« hired
daily by others.
and irhen his
back's tamd
* Now prikke on) fast / and ride thy ioumey
while thou art there / for she, behinde thy bake.
103
105
106
1 a S. 2 all S Sp. *-« men) D, Betray not men B F S T. * rcalmes S. » hit
B, om. S. •a r. S. ^—"^ Agayne falsely porposyd T, these falsly Sp., falsly D,
false hid S. * cast^* S. • aspie D, espy Sp., spye F. ^®— ^® y' Is quho redy ay
Is S. " In S. ^^—^^ sowning is to Sp., is sownynge T, vnto hie S, into hy A.
^*— ** false men Sp. ** othir S. ^ T inserts as, where as A. *•— *• quhare thai
ben not likly for to S. *' are D. ^^ as D, as they B F Sp., where as T, as that
S. ^' S inserts men. **— ^ to guerdoun thair S. ** know S. ^ men hem D
Sp., men F. « om. S. **-^ for hir fude of folk Is so disirit S. . desered F.
w That S.
c H ' TB 9/v^f, C . .fu . f (Fr Jl^
Xn. THE LBTTBR OF OUPID TO LOYBBS, HIS SUBJEOTS.
80 lyberal ys / she wol no wyght^ with-sey,
but smertly of another / take a snake ; ^
for thus thes wommen / faren, al the pake ;
who so hem tmsteth / hanged mot he be !
ay^ they desyren chaunge / and nouelte ! '
[17]
* Wherof procedeth this / but of envye ?
for he him selfe / hyrc ne wynne*^ may,
he speketh hir reprefe / and vileyny[e],
as mannes blabbyng* tong / ys wont alway ;
thus dyuers men / ful '^ often make^ assay
for to ®distourben folke / in sondry* wyse,
for they may not / acheven* her empryse.
[18]
112
113
117
119
fful many a man^® ^^eke / wolde^^ for no good,
(that hath ^^in loue / his tyme^* spent and vsed,)
Men wyste ^^his lady,^^ his axyng^* withstood,
and^^ that he ^*were / of hyr pleynly^* refused,
or wast a^d^^ ^^veyn, wer / al that he had^^ mused ;
wherfore he can / no better^^ remedye,
but on 20 his lady / shapitK him to lye.
120
123
77
•he'll Uke a
tnack with
110 tome one else,
126
[19]
* Euery womman,' he seyth / * ys lyght to gete,
(kan noon sey nay) / if she be wel I-soght* : ^i
who so may 22han leyser^^ j with her^^ to trete.
127
as women Uke
chanjfe.
When a man can't
win a woman,
he abuses her.
Tho* everyone
knows his lady
refused him.
he begins to lie
about her.
He says any
woman can be
got if she's well
courted.
^ nothing Sp. ^ smacke Sp. • Euer Sp. * The collations markt D are from
the Digby MS. 181, in the Bodleian Library. This MS. begins the poem with
stanzas 11 — 16 of the Ashburn. yersion. It then has stanzas 7 — 16 the same as
17 — 26 here, then leaye« out stanzas 7 — 10, then takes as its stanzas 17 — 26 the
Ashb. 87-9, 50-6, and after that runs with the Fairfax, its stanzas 37 — 58
corresponding with Fairfax 47 — 68. See p. 92 below. * wennefi S. • blabbyng
D Sp., babbyng St. B, labbing S T. '-^ of will mak S. 8-8 distrouble folk on
sunoer S : dSstourble T. • haue D, obtaine Sp. ** Many one Sp. "— *^ wolde
eke D, wald eke S. ^^^-^^ his tyme in love D. *•-" that sithe S. " askyng* D.
«Ere8p. ^*-i« war planly of hir S. I'^orS. "-^ vayn ait that he had D A,
. . . hath F. " none other Sp. » onely T. » sought D. **-« leisur haue D,
leiser haoe Sp., leyser haue T. '^ thame S.
78 XIX. THE LETTER OP OUPID TO LOVERS, HIS SUBJEpTS.
of his purpose / ne^ shal he faile noght,
but he on) maddyng^ / be so depe ybroghf, 131
that he^ shende al / with open homelynesse,*
5 that louen wymmen / nat as^ that, I gesse/ 133
[20]
To sclaunder women / thus, what may profytel 134
Gentlemen should too gentlls^ namely / that ^hem armen sholde/
arm in defence of -, • a i ^ « , ■» it,
women. and ui^ defence of wommen / hem delyte,
^as that* the ordre / of gentilesse^^ wolde :
yf that a man / lyst gentil to be holde, 138
he i^moot flee al^^ that / ther-to ys contrarye :
a sclaundryng^2 ^j^g / is hig grete aduersarye.^' 140
[21]
A foule thing ^* ys / of tonge to be lyght* ; 141
Great talkers gab foi who SO mycheU^ clappeth^* / gabbeth ofte.
nonsense^
the tonge of* men^'' so ^^swyft* ys / and so^® wyght,
that whan it is areysed / vp on) lofte,
reson) yt seweth^* / so slowly and softe, 145
that it 20 him neuer / ouer-take may :
lord 1 so thise men / beth trusty in asay 1 147
[22]
Tho' one woman Al-be-hyt that mah)^' fynde / o^ woman) nyce, 148
is inconstant ^ . . , . . , _
In-constant, recheles / or vamable,
^Deynouse, or proude^s / fulfilled of malice,
and deceitful, Wythouteu^ feyth or love / and deceyvable,
25 sly, queynt, and fals^^ / in al vnthrift^^ coupable, 152
Wikked, and feers / and^^ ful of cruelte,
it doesn't follow . , , no ««
that all are. yt foloweth nat^o / that swich,2® al wommen be. 154
^ om. D. ^ niadnesse Sp. * om. S. * humylnes S. ^-^ And that loue
nothing women as S, love D., they doten as Sp., nat as D. •To geutillesse Sp.
'— ' thame honowr schald S. * om. D, Sp. puts *and' after * women.* •— • And
S. ^* gentilnesse D T. ^^^^^ must all eschewe Sp. ^^ sclaundrous Sp., S.
^' MS. aduei'syte. ^* vice Sp., foule wise of t. S. " moche D. ^* chappith and
S. ^' man S. w— is gwight and so D, swyft ys / and is F. ^* is shewed Sp.,
schewit S. ^ it D, yf F. *i men) D. ^a o^e Sp. 23-23 gdee queynt and false
S, Deignous Sp. ^ With out D. *^— ^ Deynousc and proud S. 2® vntrust Sp.,
vntriste comparable B. ^ om. S, and reads fulfillit. * not D. ^ suche D.
<^nfn Vr.xr<^ ^"^ C-^^^
VrOosJv^^:3^L/V
XIX. THB LETTER OF CUPID TO LOVERS, HIS SUBJECTS.
79
[23]
155
159
161
Of the Angels,
wasn't one bad ?
Yes.
Are all angels
therefbre proud ?
When that ^the high god^ / Aungels formed had,
a-monge hem al[le] / wheither ther were noon)
that founden was / malicious and bad ?
Yis ! al men woot / that ther was many oon),
that for hir pride / fil^ from heven anoon) :
^shul men therfore^ / al Aungels, proude namel
Nay ! he that that* susteneth / is to blame.
[24]
Of twelve apostels, oon) / a traytour was :
the remenant, yit / good[e] were and triwe.
than),*^ yf it happe / men fynde[n], -per caas,*
00^ womman fals / swich^ is good for* to eschiwe,
and deme nat^® that they^^ / ben al[le] vntrewe ! 166 so of women.
I 8e^2 ^eX I mennes owne^' fal8[e]ne8se,
hem causeth wommen / for to trusten lesse.
162 Of the Apostles,
one was a traitor,
but the rest were
true.
168
[25]
169 Every man ought
to think women
honourable.
173 He's the son of
one.
^ It's a shame to
175 speak iU of her.
^*0 ! euery man) oght^* haue / an herte tendre
vn-to^*^ woman / and deme hir honurable,
wheither his shap be / outher thikke or slender,^^
or he be badde or good / this^^ ys no fable,
euery man woot / that witte hath resonable,
that of a woman / he descended ^^ ys :
than ys yt shame, of hir / to speke amys !
[26]
A wikked tre, gode frute / may noon) forth bryng ; 176
for swiche^® the fi-ute ys / as that is the tre.
take hede of whom / thou took thy bygynnyng !
lat thy moder / be Merour vnto the !
Honour your
honure hir / yf thou wolt honured be 1 180 Mother!
1-1 god the hie D. » fett D. »-^ Shuld me for them yeue Sp. * that that
D, that F. ' So Sp. • parcas D. ^ A D. ® suche D, a soch good is Sp. • om.
B S T. 10 not D. ^i all S. " S inserts full i* owne Sp., oone F. "-i* Euery
ought to D. ^ vnto a Sp. '« sklendre B, sklendir D. i' it Sp. " destended
F, discendit S, discended Sp. " suche D.
As the tree, so
is the fhiit.
80
XIZ. THB LBTTKB OF 0I7HD TO L0TBR8, HIS SUBJEOTS.
It's a bad bird
that fouls its
own nest.
Men ehoaldn't
abuse women.
Women say tiAfc
Clerics write
books against
•m.
on how they
betrayd David,
Solomon, &c..
182
183
Ovid, In his.
Bemedy of Love,
abused women,
and was a fool for
doing It.
187
189
Dispise thou hir nat / in no manere,
Lest that ther-by / thy wikkydnesse appere !
[27]
An olde proverbe / seyde ys in englyssh :
men seyn * that brid or foule / ys dyshonest,
vfh&t that he^ be / and holden ful* chirlyssh,
tbitt vseth to defoule / his ovne neste.'
men, to say wel of wymen / •yt is* best,
and ^nat to displesen hem / ne depraue,^
yf that ^they wol hir^ honour / kepe and^ saue.
[28]
These ladyes eke^ / ^compleynen hem on)* clerkes, 190
that ®they ban made bokes / of hir diffame,
In which ^^dispisen they / wo7nman[e]8^^ werkes,
and speken of hem / grete reprefe and shame,
and causeles yiven^^ hem / a wikked name :
thus they dyspysed ben / on) euery syde,
^2 and sclaundred,^2 aj^j bylowen^* / on) ful wyde.
[29]
Tho sory bokes / maken mensyon)
how they betrayd en) i* / in especial,^^
adam, dauid, sampson) / and salamon),
and many oon) mo / ^^who may rehersen aU^
the treson) / that they haue done ^^and [ay] shall^'' 201
^*the world hir malice / may not comprehende :^*
i^as that theys^® clerkes seyn / yt hath noon) ende. 203
[30]
Ouyde in his boke^^^ / called * remedye 204
of* loue * / grete reprefe of wommen writeth ;
wherin, I trowe, he dide / grete folye,
194
196
197
1 that he D Sp., he F. * for S. «-» Is ye S, is the D. *-* depris^ thame
nor Jit d. S, not for to dispyse D B T. *— * Je wald ^our S. • or Sp. ' euer Sp.
*-* complene thame of S, complcyn) D. • That that D. ^•— ^ they dispise
women and her Sp. " yeve D. ^^-^^ Disclaundred Sp. ^' blown S, belyed T.
^* betraied D, haue betrayed S. ^' especyatt D, especial Sp., special F, speciall
S. *«— ^ auho rehersen schall S. ^— ^^ and all S. ^*— '* The warld may nat jer
malice c. a : wordle D, worde T. ^*— *• And that ve S. ^ bokis B.
XIX. THE LBTTBR OP CUPID TO LOVERS, HIS SUBJECTS. 81
and euery wygKl / that ^in sucfi case delyteth.^
a clerkys custome ys / whan he endyteth 208 ci«rk» always do
' aay women are
of women, be yt prose / or^ ryme, or vers, naughty, tbothey
' •' ^ ' "^ ' ' know it isn't true.
*seye they^ ben wikke / al knowe he the re vers. 210
[31]
And that boke, scolers / lerne in *hir chyldehede,* 211
for they of women / '^be war sholde** in age,
and for to ^louen hem / euer ben^ in drede,
syn^ to deceyve / is set al hire^ corage.
they seyn, *perylle / to cast, ys avanntage,* 215
^^and namely suche^® / as men ^^han in be wrapped ,^^
for many a man by woman ^^ j \^2^i\l myshapped.^^ 217
[32]
^*No charge, whatso / thyse clerkys^* seyn : 218 i don't care what
writers say
of al hir wrong wryting / I do no cure ;
al hir trauayle and labour^* / ys in veyn),
For, betwex me / and my lady^^ nature,
shal nat^^ be suflfred / while the world may dure, 222
these ^^ clerkys / by ^^hir cruel ^^ tyranie,
^thus vpon^o wymmen / kythen hir maystrie. 224 against women.
[33]
Whylom ful mony^i of hem^^ / wer in my cheyne 225 Many of 'em wei-e
1 oo I 1 -1 * J. 11 \o^n% once, but
y-tyed^^ / and now, what for vnweldy age, have grown
useless.
and for vnlust, may not / to love atteyne,^*
and seyn, that love ys / but werray^^ dotage.
2«thu8, for that they hem selfe^* / lakken corage, 229
they folke exciten^^ / by hir wykked sawes,
for to rebelle^s agayn^ me / and my lawes. 231
1-1 on suich delitteth S. ' om. D B. »-« To seye ye S. *-♦ ther childhode
D, S om. hir *— * schuld be war S. *-• loue tbame euir be S, love D. ^ Siuch
S. 8 ther D. •— • of perel men should cast thauauTitage Sp., tast D.
lo-ao l^amely of such Sp. "— ii haue in be wrappes B, ben I-wrapped D, be-
wrapped Sp., be-wrappes F. " women D S. i* myshapped D Sp., myshappes
F B. I*—!* Now charge Is quhat so thir clerkis S, charge is Sp., howso this B.
" labour and tr. Sp. S. i« om. S. i' not D, nat AST, noon F. " Thus these
Sp. !•— !• outrageous A. **— ** on selie Sp. '^ many D, meny B. ^ them D.
22 ycheined S. ** susteyne S. ^ verry D, veray S. *-* Thus for thame seluefi
S, silf D. ^ excersw S. « ^eule S. «» ayens D.
HOOOLBVB, M. P. — I. . G
82
TUL THB LBTTEB OF OUPID TO LOYEBS, HIS SUBJECTS.
T«t, thoM who
bUm«w<mien
most,
I can make 'em
lore the fouleet
•lat
M If ahe were a
duchew.
Ovid too,
and other
abusers, were
trickt by women.
Women are up to
them and their
lies.
[34J
But mawgre hem / that blamen wommen most, 232
suche is^ the force / of myn impressyon),
that ^sodenly / I felle^ can hir host,
and al hir >¥rong / ymagynacion) ;
yt shal not ben / in her elleccion), 236
the foulest slutte / of al a^ tovne refuse,*
yf that me lyst^ / for al that they can muse ; 238
[35]
But hir in hert / as brenyngly desire, 239
as thogh she were / a duchesse or a quene ;
so can I folkes hertys / set on fire,
and as me list hem* sende / loy or tene.
they that to wommen / ^ben ywhett^ so kene, 243
my sharp[e] ^persyng strokes / how they^ smyte,
shul fele, and knowe / and how ^they kerve* and byte.
[36]
Perdee,^® this grete^^ clerke / this sotil Ouyde, 246
and ^^mony another / han^^ deceyved be
of women) / as yt knowen ys ful wyde ;
Wote no man^^ more / and that is grete deynte,
so excellent a clerk / as that was he, 250
and other mo that koude / so^* wel preche,
betrapped wer / for aght^^ they coude teche. 262
[37]
And trusteth wel / that yt^* is no mervaylle, 253
flfor women ^''knywen / pleynly^^ hir entent ;
they wiste how sotyly / they koude assayle
hem, and ^®what falshode / they in hert[e]^® ment;
and ^*this clerkys / they^^ in hir daunger hent ; 257
1 is the D Sp., is F. ^-^ sotelly y felle T. » m all the Sp., >e B. * to refuse
B. * lust D. * sem T. '— ' yhurt S. ^—^ strokis pcrcjTig quho Je S. •— • Je
bern S. ^^ Parde D. ^^ om. Sp. ^*— ^^ many D, m. one othir haue S. ^ Wote
no man S, What no men F. ^* full Sp. i« ought D. " ys F. it Sp. ^^-it
knewe full p. S. ^*— ^* y* • . • thair hert S, ^*— ^* thus they clerkes Sp., haue /or
they S.
'TT'TC^Pp-
XIX. THE LETTER OP OUPID TO LOVERS, HIS SUBJBOT&
83
Ladiei didn't do
thia, but only
quean*.
Clerks should not
defome women.
with 00 venym / another was distroyed ;
and thus thise clerkes / often were anoyed. 259
[38]
These ladyes ne thise gentils / neuerthelesse, 260
were noon of thoo / that wroghten in this wysse ; ^
but swyche^ filthes^ / as weren vertulesse,
they quy tten thus / this olde clerkis wisse ; *
To^ clerkis, ^for-thy, lesse^ may^ suflfyse 264
than to deprave^ wommen / generally;
for worshippe shul they gete / noon) therby. 266
[39]
If that thise men / that loners hem pretende, 267
to women weren ^feythfull / good* and trewe,
and dreden hem / to deceyven or offende,
women, to loue hem / wolde nat eschewe ;
but euery day hath man / an herte^® newe : 271
yt, vpon oon, abide / can no while.
what furs ys it / swich a wight to be-gile 1 273
[40]
Men) beren eke this women) / vpon) honde, 274
that lyghtly / and wyth-outen^^ any peyne,
they i^wonne ben / they can^^ ^q wyghf withstonde,
that his disese / list to hem compleyne : 277
^^they been so freel / they mo we hem nat refreyne ; ^^ ao Araii are thej.
but who so lyketh / may hem lyghtly haue,
so ben hir hertys / esy in to graue.^* 280
[41]
To^^ maister lohn de Meun / as I suppose, 281
Than^* yt was / a lewde occupacion)
In makyng of the Romance / of the Rose,
If these pretended
lovers were true
to women,
women would
love them.
Men say too that
any man can win
women.
It was a nasty
Job of Jean de
Meun,
1 wise Sp. 2 suche D. * fillokes S. * wise Sp. « To Sp. , The F D. «-« ffor
they lasse D. ' might Sp. » dispraue Sp. »-» g. f. T. ^^ hert F D, hurte Sp.
^^ wyth out D, without eny B. ^*— ^^ women ben that can S. ^'— ^* They be
so fre T, not D B, Thai haue suich mercj / they may no man witA-seyne S.
" graue D Sp., craue F. " To D Sp., I F. i« Then) D Sp., an F.
G 2
84
XrZ. THB LBTTBR OF CUPID TO L0YEB8, HIS SUBJECTS.
fai hi* Romance cf 80 many a sly / ymagynacioo)
tie Rote, toAeriae _ .ii/». no -ii naer
M> many trickt to and penls^ / 101 to rollen^ vp and doun, 2oD
deceive a poor ■, . ■■ ^ i
girl. 80 longe processe / so many a slye cautele,
for to deceyve / a sely damesele ! 287
[42]
Nat^ can I ^ seen / ne* my wytte comprehende, 288
that art and peyn^ / and sotilte [sjholde* fay lie
for to conquere / and sone make an ende,
^whan man a feble place / shal'^ assay lie,
and ^soone also® / to venquyssli a bataylle, 292
of whiche no wyght / dar maken* resistence,
Ne hert hatfi noon) / to stonderi) at^^ defence ; 294
[43]
Butifittoke* Than ^^yt moot* folowen^^ / of necessite, 295
•o murfa troable
to deceive a syn^^ art askctfi / SO grete engyn and peyne
a woman ^^to dysceve / what she^' be
surely she'* more of constance^* / they bcn)^^ not so bareyne
constant than
•orae clerks say. ^^as that sommo of thiso / sotil clerkys feyne ;^^ 299
but they ben / ^^as that wommen oghten be,^^
sad / constant / and fulfilled of pite.^* 301
[44]
See what a friend How f Fcndely was / Mcdca to Iesou) 302
Medea was to tlie . .
false Jason, in thc^^ conqucriug / of the flees 2", of golde !
how falsi y quyt he / hir affeccion),
by whom victorie he gate / as he hath^i wolde !
how may this man, for shame / be^ so bolde 306
to falsen^ hir / that from Ms dethe and shame
him kept,24 and gat him / so grete pris and name 1 308
* perelous T, perillis S. ^ rott D. « Not D. *-* say ne Sp. S, ne in F. « part
S. <* shulde T, schuld? S. '— ' When) D, Quheii a man schall a f. p. S. * also
son S. * may make Sp. ^* to make any Sp. "— " mote It falow S, ffolowe D.
12 sich S, cm. so. i*— ^* for to Dissaue quho S : what so Sp. i* confiaimce B,
constaunte S. *' be they Sp. *•— i* As ar sum men Or othir subtile clerkw S.
^—^^ richt as Women oucht to be S, ought to D. ^ bountee S. " the grete D,
the om. S. ^ flees D, flece Sp., flee F, fleswj S. ^ haue D, S om. hath.
» durst be D. '^ ffaylen D T. «* helped, om. him, a priss S.
j^^^ c^i^ en
XIX. THB LETTBR OF CUPID TO LOVERS, HIS SUBJECTS. 85
[45]
Of trove also / the traytour^ Eneas, 309 and Dido to the
J I '^ faithless wretch
the feythles wrechcli / how hath he him for-swore^ Eneas.
to dido, that queen / of Cartage was,
that him leleved / of his ^smertys sore ! ^
what gentilesse^ niyght* she / han doon) more 313
than^ she with hert vnfeyned / to hym kyddo 1
and what myschefe *to hir / ther-of® betydde ! 315
[46]
In my legende of Martres^ / men may^ fynde 316 in mjieaendof
Martyn you may
(who so^ that lyketh therin / for^^ to rede,) see that oaths can
bind no man,
that oothe in no^^ behest / ^^may no man) bynde ; ^^
of repreuable shame / han they no drede ;
In mannes hert[e] / trouthe hath no^^ stede ; 320
the soyl ys noght / ther may no trouthe growe !
■
to womman namely / yt is nat un-kiiowe.^* 322 a^ women know.
[47]
Clerkes seyn also / * ther is no malice 323 clerks say there's
no naughtiness
vnto a^* womans / crabbed wykkydnesse ! * uke a woman's.
woman) ! how shalt thow^^ / thy self chevice,
i^syn men) of^^ the / so ^^muchel harme wytnessel^^
No fors ! doo forth / take^^ no^® heuynesse ! 327
kepe thyn) owne / ^^what men) clappe^i or crake !
and somme of hem shul smert / I vndertake ! 329
[48]
* Malice * of women) / what is y t to drede 1 330 But women's
oo • naughtiness
they sle no men) / dystroyen^^ no citees !
^they not oppressen folke / ne over-lede,^^
1 Duke D. 2 forfare S. «-« herte* s. S. * gentilnesse D. « Than) D, That
F B. •— • thare-of to hir S. "^ Cupid's or Chaucer s * Legend of Good Women '
[Skeat]. Speght wrongly reads 'natures.* ® may men) D T. • om. D. ^* om.
D. *^ othe ne Sn. S T. **-^* men may find« S. ^ neuir S. ^* not vmk[n]owe
D. >« om. D. ^« shaltow T. ^'^-^ Sith D, Sieh men to S. ^^-^^ moch« harm
alle gois S ; moche D, soch (for *so muchel*) Sp. ^' ancl? take S. ^ noon D.
Spegnt's line is * Beth ware, women, of her fikelne8S3. ' ^^—^^ quhat so men
clepe S. ^ ne distroy S. ^*— * ne not oppresses folk In no seyn ledl S.
86
XIZ. THS LETTEB OF CUPID TO LOVERS, HIS SUBJBOIB.
docm'tknrt
kingdoms or mC
housMonftre.
Women luiTe, m
a rule, tnist, love
and good morals.
Women's hearts
are deroot and
amiable.
(IfoUierwise,
Ui^'re an-
natoral.)
betray Empires / ^Remes ne ducheas,^
ne men) ^bereve hir landes / ne hir Mees,* * 334
empoysone folkys / ne hooses set oii) fire,
ne false contractes / maken for non)^ hire ! ' 336
[49]
Trust, perfyte loue / and entere* charyte, 337
fervent* wyl / and entenlented^ corage
*be tbewes* good / as •yt sytt* wel to be,
ban women ay^® / of custome and vsage ;
and wel tbey kan / a^^ mannes yre as wage 341
witb soft[e] wordes / discreet^* and benigne :
what they be^* Inward / sheweth^* outwarde sygne.
[50]
Womman[ne]8 herte / vn-to no cruelte
enclyned ys / but they ben charitable,
pitouse, devoute / f ul of humylite,
shamefaste,^^ debonarie^* / and amy able,
Dredful / and of ^^ hir wordes mesurable :
what woman thise^® / hath not, perauenture,
^•Ne folweth nat^* / the wey of hir nature.
[51]
344
348
350
Men say that Eve Men sevu, *oure firstfel moder / natheles,
made aU folk "^ *- ■■ ' '
lose their liberty, made al man-kynde / lese^o his lyberte,
and naked yt^ of Ioy[e] / douteles ;
22flfor goddis hestes / disobeyed she,^
whan she presumed / tasten of a^ tre
wichch ^ god forbad / that she ne ete of sholde ;
25 and nade the deuel ben / namore she wolde.'^^
351
355
357
*— ^ realmis nc Bnchess S, Duchesses D. *— * bireven) D, bereuen lander nor
thar socs S. ^ Messoages, nouses and lands, holding. See Catholieon, * no D.
« cuir S. • frauard S. ' entalented D B. »-« To D, All Sp., To thewis S B T.
»-• sittith D Sp. i<> euer Sp. " thev conne Sp. " swete D S. ^ ben) D.
1* they shew Sp. " SchamefuU S. " debonayr D. '' and of D Sp., of F.
M that S. »»-*• FoUoweth not Sp. » lose D, to lese S. » him S. **-» for that
. . . best diaobeyt sche S, heste T. » the D Sp. B T. »* That Sp. »-» But
3it ye fend that agayfi stoden wold S ne wolde F.
i¥i
ZIZ. THB LBTTBR OF OUPID TO LOVERS, HIS SUBJBOTS.
^
[52]
The enviouse suellyng / that the fend, our fo,
had vnto man in herte^ / for his welthe,
sent a serpent / and made hir for to go
to deceyve Eve / and thus was mannes helthe^
beraft ^him by the fende / ryght^ in a stelthe,
the woman *noght* knowyng* / of the* deceyt :
gode wote, ful *fer was yt / from^ hir conceyt.
[53]
Wherfore I sey^ this / good[e] woman) Eve,
our fader Adam / ne deceyved noght.
ther may no man / for a deceyt yt preve
proprely, but yf that she / in hir thoght*
had it compassed* first / •er yt was^ wroght* ;
and for swich was nat hir^^ / impressyori),^^
Men i^calle / yt may,^* no deceyt^ by reson).
[54]
No^* wyght deceyveth / but he yt^* purpose ;
the fende ^*this deceyt cast / and nothing ^^ she ;
than ys yt wronge / to demen or suppose
that she sholde of tMs^^ harme / the cause be.
witeth the fende / and his ^^be the^® Mawgre,
and for excused / haue^* hir Innocence,
sauf oonly that she / breeke^ obedyence.
[55]
And touching that^ / ful fewe men ther ben —
Vnnethes^^ any / dar I saufly seye —
fro day to day / as ^^that men now^^ wel seen,
but that^ the best / of god they dysobeye :
haue this in mynde / sires,^* I yow preye ;
358
369
371
372
87
But it WM th«
_^- Devil who did
obJ thii.
364
365 Eto didn't
deodT« Adam.
The OeTil did.
376 Blame liim.
378
379 Nearly every map
daily
disobeys God.
383
^ harte Sp., hert F D. * wealth Sp. *— ^ S om. him atvd. reads and ry* : right
even) D, by the fende Sp. *-^ kn. no* S. ' that Sp. *— • fer It was from S.
' S inserts that. * pwrposit S. •— • or she it Sp. ^^ hir D, hit F. ^ en ten-
cioun S. ^^— ^ may catt it D, may it call Sp. ^ disceipt of* her Sp. " Ne no
Sp. ^* om. Sp. ^®— " yis desaite . . . nat S. ^'^ his D, That of his harme she
dhould Sp. M-18 iiie s. i» hald S. «> brake D Sp. ^^ this Sp. » Vnnethe.
men mowe D, as men may all day see Sp., mow T. ^ om. D. ^ Seris D.
88
m. THB LETTER OF OVTtD TO LOTEBS, HIS SUBJECTS.
And when m«n
My women mre
onstable.
I ask ' Wasn't
Adam diani^e*
able?'
TetGod
took flesh of a
Virgin,
yf that ye be discreet / and resonable,
*ye wol hir hold[en] / tbe^ more excusable. 385
[56]
And where 2 men seyn) / in man) ys stedfastnesse, 386
and woman) ys / of hir corage vnstable,
Who may of Adam / here swiche^ witnessel
telleth me this / was he nat channgeable 1
they *bothe weren / in a caas semblable ; * 390
sauf willyngly the feende / deceyued Eve,
and so dide she nat Adam / by your leue. 392
[57]
Yet was this synne* / happy to man)-kynde : 393
the feende decey ved was / for al his sleyght* ;
for aught* he coude him / in his sleythes wynde,
^god, to discharge^ mankynde / of the weight*®
of* his trespase, cam^^ douw / from the^^ hevenes height*,
and fles^ and blood / ^^he tooke of A^^ yirgyne,
and suffred deth / hiAi^' to delyuer of pyne ! 399
[68]
And god, to whom / ther may no thing hyd be,
yf he in woman knowe / had suche malyce
and if He'd
known that
woman was so
Jhf it He"d"fver ^8 ^en of hem recorde / in generalte ;
of her^T" ^"^ ^^^* ^^ ^^^Jy ^^ ly^e / reparatrice.
400
She is so ftill of
▼irtaee that no
man can express
them.
Nolde ban be bom / but ^*for that^* she of vice
Was woyde / and of al vertu (wel he wyste)
endowed ^* / of hir to be bore hym Hste.
[59]
Hir heped^^ vertu / hath swich^® excellence,
that al to leene^® / ys mannes faculte
to declare yt / and ther-for in suspence,
404
406
407
^— ^ je wold hold womefi ye S, hir wolde D. ' whan B. • suche D, soch a Sp,
*-* boith ware cavLse symiable S, o case Sp. • MS. fynne. • thouch S. '— ' God
dischargit S. » plicht S. » for S. i« come D. " om. S. "-" tuke of a cleyfi
S. " man D. " MS. yf. "-" om. D. " Endewed D. ^' happy D, hicht S.
« such D. ^ low S.
c L fyr^ J^/t
T^Cs^
XIX. THE LETTER OF CDPID TO LOWERS, HIS SUBJECTS.
hir due preysing / put moot nedes be ;
but this I sey / [right] verraly, that she, 411
next god, ^the best frend ys^ / that to men longetfi :
the key of mercye by^ hir girdille hongetfi. 413
89
Next God, she it
man's best friend.
[60]
And of mercye / hath euery man) swicR^ nede,
that, cessyng* that / farewel the loy of man) !
of her power / now taketh^ ryght^ good hede !
she mercye may / wol,*^ and purchace kan !
dysplese^ hir nat* / honureth that woman,
and other women al[Ie]^^ / for hir sake !
and but ye do / your sorowe shal a-wake !
[61]
Thou preciouse gemme / martir^^ Margarete,
of ^2 thy blood / draddest noon) effusion) !
thy martirdome / ^^ne may I nat^^ foryete ! ^*
thou constant womman / in thy passyon)
ouercoom)^* the feendis / temptaciori) :
and many a wyghf ^^ / conuerted thy doctryne,
1^ Vnto the feith of God / holy virgyne I ^^
[62]
414
418
420
Women can win
men mercy.
421
Witness the con-
stancy of
St Margaret
tlie martyr.
425
427
428
But vnderstondeth / I cowimende hir noght
by encheson) / of hir virginite.
trusteth ryght^® weP* / it cam neuer in my thoglit,
for euer werre y^® / ayein^i chastyte,
and ever 228hal / but this, lo, meveth me,^ 432
hir louyng hert / and constant to hir lay,
dryve oute of my rem[em]braunce / I ne may ! 434
Her I praise,
not for her
virginity,
but for her
constancy.
^— ^ is the best frende B. ' at Sp. ' suche D. * wanting S. ' takith nowe
D. « here S. ' wett D Sp. » Dispise S. • not D. i« And all othir women S.
" of martirs Sp. ^^ThatofSp. ^^*-" may I not D. " Speght's line is : *Thou
loner true, thou maiden mansuete.' ^ ouercame Sp. " man S. ^'-^' From
Ashb. MS. god / holy D. Speght, / holy God thou, 1602, fol. 312, back, col. 2.
F B omit 1. 44i. *• om. S. ^* om. *ryght wel' Sp. ** werrey F, I weirey
D S T. ^ A yens D. *»-» I shatt / but lo this mouyth D, (lo this) Sp, lo this
commend me S.
90 nX. THB LBTTKB OF ODPID TO I/yTEBS, HIS SUBllDCn.
[63]
whooB iai In any boke also / where can ye fynde, 435
(that of the werkis / ^or the^ dethe at lyfe
of Ih«a speketh / or maketh any mynde,)
that amy woaa that wommeo him forsook^ / for woo or stiyfe I
wher was ^ther any wyght* / so ententyfe' 439
a-bouten^ him / as women ! pardee^ noon) !
Batall the
Aportiesdid. tliapostels bvm foTsoken* / eneiychon)! 441
[64]
Worn man) forsooke bym) noght / for.al the feyt& 442
of holy chirche / in womman left oonly :
this is no lees / for thus^ holy wryt seyeth.
Lok ! and ye shal so fynde yt / hardely ; ^
!■ WMMB. tiMB. and therfore I may •preve / wel herby,* 446
that in womman regneth / stable Constance ;
ia an, chose- and in meit / ys the^^ channge and^ yariance ! 448
[65]
Xow holdeth this for fenne / and for no lye, 449
AmI My tra* that this ^trew / and lust^ commendadon)
bad of women
of women, tolde^ / I nat^* for flateiye,
ne to caose hem^ pride / or^* elacion),
fatoMpthwn but oonly loo / for this entencion), 453
to pcfMvere in
to yeve hem corage / of persenerannce
In vertu / and^'^ hir honure to enhaunce.^^ 455
[66]
The more vertu / the lasse is the pride. 456
vertu so digne is / and so noble in kynde,
that vice and [8]hei* / wol not*® in feere abide :
[sjhe puttetii vyce*^ / dene out of hi[r] mynde, 459
[sjhe fleeth from him / [s]he leueth^ him behynde !
othir S. ' hym) fonoke D, him forsook Sp. F. *—^ any so Inly ententife
8. ^ About D. * proned Sp., /or pardee. ' The Apostelis forsoke hym D, him
foraoken Sp., forsoken hym F B. * om. S. • redely S. •— • pn)ve wett tberby
D, wel prcTe herby F B, therby Sp. » om. D. " of Sp. **-" lust and trew &
» writt 8. ^* not D, tel I fat no Sp. « Ne bicause of Sp. ^ nor S. ^ om.
D. "• auannce Sp. * ache 8. • om. 8. ** om. S, reads dere, hir. • put S.
9i^fFcJ—^^-fF=^
X'r'cJovyo^^-K
XIZ. THE LETTER OF OUFID TO LOVERS, HIS SUBJEOTS.
womman) / that of wertu art hostesse,^
gret ys thyn honor / and thy worthy nesse ! 462
[67]
Thau wol we thus / concladen and dyfi'yne :
we yow comannde / oure Ministres echon),
that redy ^been / to oure hestes^ enclyne,
that, of thise false ^ men) / our reble* foon),
ye do punyshement* / and that anoon) ! 467
voide •hem our^ court / and banyssh hem^ for euer,
so that ®ther-in / they ne come more^ neuer. 469
91
of which, wooian
if the hostew.
463 Then, my
senraiiU,
[68]
470
ffulfilled be *yt / cessyng al delay ! ^
look [that] ^® ther be nooii) / excusacion)
^^ writew in the ayer / the lusty ^^ moneth of May,
In oure paleys / where many A Milion)
of loners trwe / han habitacioh), 474
the yere of grace / loyful and locunde
A thousand and^^ foure houwdred / and^^ secounde. 476
^ Explicit lifera Cupidinis ^*dei araatoris
directa suis subdih>."
(In a late hand, Stowe*s 1) T. hocleve.
* hostresse Sp., Hostes S. '*— * ye be oure hestes to Sp.
• false Sp., om. F D. * rebell Sp. • punicioun S. «-• thame
Joitr S. ' thame S. ®-^ here after therin they come D, therein
more come they Sp. •-• this precept without D S. *® S in-
serts that. *^— ^^ Wretyn) in the lusty D Sp. (Read * tK ayer *
as one syllable.) i* om. D Sp. S. " the D. i*-** Explicit etc
S. directa subditis snis amatoiibus D T, the lettre of Cupide
god of loue directed to his snggestys louers, 6. [At end of
line, and of other poems, * Lyty \ ? the lubricator, B.]
turn these (Use
rebels of men out
of my Court t
Written in May,
1402.
92 XIX. THE UBTTEB OF CUPID TO L0TEB8, H18 SUBJKCT8.
The title of the poem in Stowe's edition of 1561,
FoL cccxxviy back, and in Sp^ht's edition of 1602, is :
'* The Letter of Cupide. This letter was made by
Thomas Occleue of the office of the priny Seale,
Chancers scholler ; and was by him termed, A Trea-
tise of the conuersation of men and women in the
little Island of Albion : which gate him such hatred
among the gentlewomen of the Conrt, that he was
inforced to recant in that booke of his, called
Plandus j7ro??r/i«." *— Sp^ht 1602, FoL 310, back.
coL 1, at foot.
^ The Complaint that follows heie, from the Durham KS.
The Fairfax MS has the stanzas of the Letter of
Cupid in the following wrong order : 1-6, 17-26, 7-9,
30-36, 47-9, 10-16, 37-9, 50-9, 40-6, 27-9, 60, 61-2,
63-4, 65-8. In the text above, the stanzas are set in
the right order of Hoccleye's autograph Ashbomham
MS, which was got only at the last moment, years after
the Fairfax MS had been printed, and collated with a
lot of other poor MSS, and when I had no hope of
getting access to the Ashbnmham MS.
Speght has the order of stanzas right to no. 60, but
then puts 63, 64 before 61, 62. Nos. 65-8 he has
right.
A partial collation of the Ashbumham MS, as well
as of Shirley's MS at Triuity ColL Cambridge, is given
in the Notes below, with extracts from Christine de
Pisan's UEpistre de Cupide, from which Hoccleve
adapted his poem. Mr. Crollancz will print the Ash-
bumham MS as Part II of Hoccleve's Mim/r Poems for
the Early English Text Society.
93
II. HOCCLEVE'S COMPLAINT, &c.
DURHAM MS.
Collated in part with MS. Arch, Seld. Sxvpra 53 (Bodleian Library).
94
Durham MS. III. 9.
After the two fly-leaves, the first 10 paper leaves of the poem —
all the Complaint^ and the hegiiining of the Dialog — are in the
handwriting of John Stowe, the Chronicler.
Collation of vellum sheets : a and h in eights missing ; c, d, e, /,
g, 7i, t, ky /, m, in eights ; n 1 — 3.
/id%-(c/*/i^^^ j>l4c^ gr^>i// (^x^-U^
95
XX.
\J)urhamEwdent: III. 9. J
Efjomais; |&occlibe[*s Complaint*^] \^^'\
\The Pt'olog.]
(1)
A fter that hervest Inned had his sheves,^
and that the broune ^ season* of myhelmesse
was come, and gan the trees robbe of ther^ leves
That grene had bene^ / and in lusty fresshnesse,
and them^ in-to colowre / of yelownesse
hadd dyen® / and doune tbrowne vndar* foote,
that channge sank^<* / into myne herte roote.
(2)
for freshely browght it^^ / to my remembraunce,
that stablenes in this worlde is there none ;
there is no thinge / but channge and variaunce ;
how welthye^^ a man be / or well be-gone,^*
endure it shall not / he shall it for-gon.^* 12
deathe^^ vnder fote / shall hym thrist adowne :
that is every wites^* / conclusyon. 14
(3)
whiche for to weyue / is in no mannes^^ niyght, 15
how riche he be / stronge, lusty, freshe, and gay.
and in the ende / of novembar, vpon a nyght,
[The various readings are from the Seidell MS, unless markt
Dm. for the Durham MS, or St. for Stowe's part of the Durham
MS.] * Pencil : later. * W. Browne [in margin].
' broun, Selden ; brome, Stowe.
1 After Michaelmas,
thdfaUofthe
leaves
8 reminded me
that man's wealth
quits him,
and he dies.
Late in November
sesoun
* her * ben
' hem * died • throwen vndir ^® alterd from * sange * in Dm.
" broujte it* [browght Dm] ** welthi ^ wel be-goon
** for-goon ^* Deeth ** wijtes *' maTines (mans, St.)
96 XX. HOOCLEVB'S OOMPLAINT. I LOST MT WITS.
I tay awake svgheiige SOTO / as I io mv bed lay,
for this and othar thowghts^ / whiche many a day 19
before^ I toke / sleape cam none in myne eye,
so vexyd me / the thowghtfull malady e. 21
(4)
stnoamyiast I see well, sythen^ I with sycknes last 22
was scourged / clowdy hath bene the favonre
that shone [on]^ me / full bright in tymes past ;
the Sonne abatid / and the derke showre
hildyd downe right on me / and in langour 26
I didn't want to he^ made [me] swyme / so that my wite^
live *
to lyve / no lust hadd, ne [no]'^ delyte. 28
(5)
igrievdto The grefe abowte / my^ harte so* [sore] swal 29
and bolned evar / to and to so sore,
that I waa font that nedes / oute I must[e] there-with-all ;
I thowght I nolde it kepe^^ cloos no more,
ne lett it in me / for to olde^^ and hore ; 33
and for to preve^* / I cam of a woman,
to speak oat. I brast outc ou the morowe / and thus began. 35
here endythe my prologe . and folowythe my
complaynt.
[The Complaint]
(6)
[leafs, back] A 11 myghty god / as lykethe his goodnes, 36
visytethe folks ^^ alday / as men may se,
with lose of good / and bodily sikenese,
and amonge othar / he forgat not me ;
God made me witnes vppou the wyld infirmytie 40
which that I had / as many a man well knewe,
and whiche me owt of ray selfe^* / cast and threw. 42
. ' o])ir )K>a^tis ' Byfomc • I sy wel sithin * shoon on
* Me • spirite {for wite) ' ne no [no added above the line]
^ myn * so sore [sore added above the line] ^^ nolde / kepe it*
" eelde " preue : pry ve St. ^ vedte)) folke ** silfe
A ^Las- ((^ ^V> -^^ P\/i>^. C^-y^u^. (d^
HOOOLETB's OOMPLAINT. I aOT WSLL, BUT OLD FBIBNDS OUT MB. 97
(7)
43
50
It was so knowen to the people / and kouthe,
that cownsell was it none / ne none be niyght[e] ;
how it with me stode / was in every mans^ mowtho,
and that full sore / my fryndes^ affright[e] ;
ihey for myne helthe / pilgrimages hight[e], 47
and sowght them' / some on hors and some on foote, —
god yelde it them' / — to get[en] me [my] bote.* 49
(8)
but althowghe the substaunce / of my memory
went[e] to pley / as for a certayne space,
yet the lorde of vertew / the kynge of glory,
of his highe myght / and^ [his] benynge grace,
made it to retume / in-to the place
when[ne]s it cam / whiche^ at all hall we messe,
was five yeere / neyther more ne lesse.
And evere^ sythen / — thanked be god owr lord,
of his good' reconsiliacion, —
my wyt and I / have bene of suche accorde
as we were / or the alteracion
of it was / but by my savacion,
[Sith] that* tyme have I be / sore sett on fire,
and ly ved in great torment / and martire ;
(10)
for thowgh that my wit / were home^® come agayne,
men wolJe it not ^^ so vnderstond or take ;
with me to deale / hadden they dysdayne ;
a ryotows person T was / and forsake ;
myn olde fi*rindshipe / was all ovarshake ;
no wyte^^ withe me lyst make daliance;
the worlds me made a strauiige continance,
Erery one knew
it.
My friends went
pilgrimages for
me.
I lost my
memory.
54
56
57
but it came baci
on Nov. I,
5 years ago.
and has remaind.
61
63
65
68
But my old
friends liave oo*
me.
70
^ mannes : mans St. * frendis : frynds St. ' hem
* me mv boote * and his • was St. am, was ' every St
* good and gracious St. • Sith Jwt *<> hoom
" not : no St. " wi)t
HOCCLKVE, M.P. — II. H
98 HOOOLBVB's OOMPULINT. folk said I SHOULD GO MAD AOAIlf.
[leaf 4]
In WMtmintier
Hall and London
they turnd their
hflfkds from me.
I was forgotten.
Folk lafd I thonld
go mad again.
Tet I hayn't gone
•o.
(11)
"vrhiche^ that myne hert€ / sore gan* tonnent[e] ; 71
for ofte wlian I / in westmynster hall[e],
and eke in london / amonge the prese* went[e],
I se^ the chere / abaten and apalle
of them^ that weren wonte me for to calle 75
to companye / her heed they caste a-wry[e],
when I them mette / as they not me sye. 77
(12)
As seide is in the sauter / might I say, 78
they that me sye / fledden a-wey fi'o me ;
forgeten I was / all owte of mynde a-way,
as he that dede was / from hertes cherte ;
to a loste vessell / lickened myght I be ; 82
for many a wyght / abowte me dwellynge,
herd I me blame / and putte in dispreisinge. 84
(13)
Thus spake many one^ / and seyde by me : 85
* all-thowghe from hym / his siknesse savage
with-drawne and passyd / as for a tyme be,
Besorte it wole / namely in suche age
as he is of ' / and thanne my visage 89
bygan to glowe / for the woo and fere ;
Tho wordis, them vnwar / cam to myn ere. 91
(14)
* whane passinge hete is,' quod they, * trusty th this, 92
assaile hym wole^ agayne that maladie ; *
and yet parde / they token them amise ;
none® effect at all / toke there* prophecie ;
manie someres ben past / si then remedy e 96
^^of that, god of his grace me purveide :
1^ thanked be god / it shope nought ^^ as they seide. 98
* with ' gan to St. • prees * sy * hem • oone
' him wole : wole hym St. * Noon • her
19-^0 these lines as in Seld. : transposed by St. ^ shoop not*
CL
XX. hooclbye's complaint, thet said my brain was touoht. 99
(15)
what fall[e] shall / what men so^ deme or gesse, 99
to hym that wott ^ [well] every mans ^ secre,
reservyd is / it is a lew[e]dnesse,
men wyser them pretende / then they be ; Men »jiouidn't
- .1,1 1 I 1 . 1 <■ pretend to know
and no Wight knoweth / be it he or she, 103 whafu happen.
whom, how ne whan / god wole hym visete ;
It happethe ofte* / whan men wene it lite. 105
(16)
Some tyme I wend / as lite as any man, 106 peaf4,back3
for to have fall / in-to that wildenesse
but god, whan [that] hym list / may, wole and can, God sends sick-
helthe with-drawe / and send a wyght sycknesse ;
Thowghe man be well this day / no sykemesse 110
to hym bihight is / that it shall endure ;
god hurte now can / and nowe hele and cure. 112 m Heiikes.
(17)
he suffrith longe / [but] at^ the laste he smit; 113
whane that a man is / in prosperite,
To drede a fall comynge / it is a wit ;
who so that takethe hede / of te may se
This worldis change / and mutabilite 117
In sondry wyse / howe nedeth not expresse :
To my mater / streit wole I me dresse. 119
(18)
Men seyden, I loked / as a wilde steer, 1 20 Men said i lookt
and so my loke abowt I gan to throwe ;
myne heed to hie / a-nother seide I beer,
f ul bukkyshe is his brayne / well may I trowe ; that my brain
1 i.iji*-ittf 1 i..ii irtj '^** buckish,
and seyde the thirde 7 and apt is m the rowe 1 24
to site of them / that a resounles reed
Can geye ^ / no sadnesse is in his heed. 126
^ ? whatso men * woot ' hertis * often
' but at * thridde ' Can he ^eue
H 8
100 XX. HOOCLIVB*8 COMPLAINT. MEK^S TALK OF MB MADE MB BAD.
and my feet and
eye* nttrer atiU.
So I thouf^ht
IM b«tt«r go
away;
PeafS]
but I was very
•ad.
Men's talk of me
made uie go cold
and hot.
(19)
ChauBgid had I my ^ pas / some seiden eke, 127
for hero and there / forthe stirte I as a Boo,
none abode ^ / none arrest, but all brain-seke.
A-nother spake / and of me seide also,
my feete weren aye / wavynge to and fro 131
whane that I stonde shulde / and withe men talkc,
and that myne eyne^ / sowghten every halke. 133
(20)
I leide an ere aye to / as I by * wente^ 1 34
and herde all / and thus in myne herte I cast :
of longe abydynge here / I may repent[e] ; *
leste, of hastinesse / I at the last[e]
auswere a-myse / best is hens bye fast[e] ; 1 38
for yf I in this preace / a-mysse me gye,
to harme will^ it me turne / and to folly[e]. 140
(21)
And this I demyd well / and knew well eke, 141
what-so-evar I shuld answere or sey,
they wold[en] ^ not have * holde it worthe a leke ;
for why / as I hadd lost my tonges key,
Kepte I me cloos / and trussyd me my wey, 145
drowpynge and hevye / and all woo bystad ;
small cawse had I / me thowght[e], to be glade. 147
(22)
My sprites / laboryd [euere] bysyly* 148
to peinte countinaunce ^® / chere and loke,
for that men spake of me / so wonderingly,
and for the very shame / and fere I qwoke ; ^^
thowghe myne herte had be / dypped in y* broke, 152
It wete and moyste I-now was of my swot,
whiche was no we frostye colde / now firy hoot. 154
^ me ' Noon abood • yen * by : be St
' may me repent • wole ' wolden ® ban
» labonriden / euere ful bisily " ooontenaunce ^* wook
^ iL tfS
-r^'
-/^^
91^. Owi^ . (^jt^J
XZ. H(kX3LBVB'S OOMPLAINT. MT OLA88 SHOWD 111 SANB.
lOi
155 At hoBM I kwkt
in the glaat*
159
161
162
and thought I
was all right.
(23)
And in my chamber at home when I ^ was
my selfe alone * / I in this wyse wrowght :
I streite vnto my myrrowr / and my glas,
to loke how that me / of my chere thowght[e],
yf any [other] were ^ it / than it owght[e] ;
for fayne wolde I / yf it had not * be right,
amendyd it / to my kunynge and myght.
(24)
Many a sawte made I to this myrrowre,
thinkynge, '' yf that I loke in this manere
amonge folke / as I now do,* none errowr
of suspecte loke / may in my face appere,
this countinance, I am svre,^ and this chere,
If I forthe vse / is no thinge reprevable
to them that have / conseytes resonable."
(25)
And there-with-all / I thowght[e] thus anon :
" men in theyr^ owne case / bone blynd alday,
as I haue hard say / many a day agon,
and in that [same] plyght ^ / I sbonde may ;
how shall I doo / which is the best[e] way,
my trowbled spirit / for to bringe at ^ rest[e] 1
yf I wist ho we / fayne wolde I do the best[e],"
(26)
Sythen I recoveryd was / have I full ofto
Cawse had of angre / and ympacience,
where I borne have it ^^ / esely and softe,
suli'erynge wronge be done to me, and offence,
and nowght ^^ answeryd ageyn / but kept sylenco, 180 and held my
lest that men of me / deme would, and seyne,
* se how this man / is fallen in agayne.'
166
168
169
bat perhapa
couldn't see my
real stale.
173
175
176 [leaf 5, back]
I've sutlerd
wrong,
and hel
tongue.
182
' )>atl
* nowe do
' aloone ' othir were * not had bene
• sure ' her • same plite • in *• it
" not
102
XX. hogcleve'b complaint, tbt some thought me mad.
Coming flrom
Wettminster,
I fchoaght I WM
a fool to show
mysdf;
and yet if I kept
in, I should be
held worse.
(27)
As that I ones^ / fro westmynstar cam, 183
vexid full grevously / withe thowghtfuU hete,
thus thowght I / " a great fole I am,
this pavyment / a dayes thus to bete,
and in and out / labour[e] fast and swete, 187
wonderinge / and hevynes to purchace,
sythen I stand ^ out / of all favour and grace." 189
(28)
And then thowght I / on that othar syde : 190
" If that I not be sene / amonge the prees,
men deme wele * / that I myne heade hyde,
and am werse than I am / it is no lees."
lorde, so my spirite / was rest[e]les, 194
1 sowght[e] reste / and I not it found,
but aye was trouble / redy at myn bond. 196
(29)
I can't Stop foiics' I may not lett a man / to ymagine 197
ferre above the mone / yf that hym lyst ;
there-by the sowthe / he may not determyn[e],
but by the prefe / bene thing[e]s knowne ^ & wiste ;
many a dome / is wrappyd in the myst ; 201
man by his dedes / and not by his lokes,
shall knowne be / as it is writen in bokes. 203
(30)
by taste of frewte / men may well wete and knowe 204
what that it is / othar prefe is there none ;
every man wott well that / as that I trowe,
right so they / that demen my witt is gone,
as yet ^ this day / there demy the many a one ^ 208
I am not well / may, as I by them goo,
taste and assay / yf it be so or noo. 210
and some deem
me mad still.
* oones
• stone * wole * knowen * zit
* many oon
A /io^(c /Va ZK ) j^>4co/ Oy.^ ' ^™!^>'
XZ. HOOOLEVE's OOUPLAINT. I HATK HT WITS AOAIM.
lOS
(31)
Vpon a looke / is harde, men them to grownde
what a man is / theie-bj the sothe is hid ;
whither his wittes / seke bene or sounde,
by cowntynaunce / it is not wist ne kyd ;
thowghe 1 a man harde / have ones bene bityde,
God shilde it shuld / on hym contynue alway ;
by comunynge / is the best assay.
(32)
I mene to comon ^ of thing[e]s mene,
for I am but right lewde / dowt[e]les,
and ygnoraunte / my cunnynge is full lene,
yet homly reason / know I nevartheles ;
not hope I founden be / so resonles
as men demen / marie, chnst forbede !
I can no more / preve may the dede.
(33)
211
▲ man's wito
ooghkn't to be
Jadgd bj hit
looks.
215
217
218
222 rm not 10 wiOaM
M Mk Uiink.
224
22o A man who gets
drank onoe
If a man ones / fall in dronkeuesse,
shaU he contynewe / there-in evar mo %
nay, thowghe a man doo / in drinkynge excesse
so feiforthe / that not speake he ne can, ne goo,
and his wittes / welny ben refte hym froo, 229
and buryed- in the Cuppe / he aftarward
Comythe to hym selfe agayne / ellis were it hard ; 231 becomes sober j
(34)
Eight so / thowghe my ^ witt / were a pilgrime,
and went[e] fer fro home / he cam agayne ;
God me voydyd * / of this * grevous venyme
that had enfectyd / and wildyd my brayne.
se how the curtese leche moste sovereyne,
vnto the sycke / gevy the ^ medisyne
in nede / and hym relevythe of his peyne.*^
232 and tho' I went
out of my mind.
Qod cured me.
236
238
Thoii3 ' commone
• the • jeueth
' >at my * deuoided
7 greuons pine
104
XX. hooolbvb's ooMPLAnrr. it's time fob hs to dix
Some men look
fools.
and yet prove
wise.
[Ieftf6,l»ck]
StilU tho' I look
Mne,
(35)
Now let this passe / god wott, many a man 239
semythe full wyse / by cowntenannce and chere,
whiche, and he tastyd were what he can,
men myghten licken hym / to a fooles pere ;
and some man lokethe / in foltyshe maner[e] 243
as to the outward dome / and ludgement,
that at the prese / descrete is and prudent. 245
(36)
but algates, howe so be / my countynaunce, 246
debate is now none / bytwyxt me and my wit,
all-thowghe there were / a dysseveraunce
as for a tyme / betwyxt me and it ;
the greatar harme is myne, that nevar yet ^ 250
a wise man never was I Well lettered / prudcnt and discrete,
stood on my feet;
there nevar stode yet / wyse man on my fete. 252
(37)
The sothe is this / suche conceit as I had, 253
and vndarstondynge / all were it but small,
byfore that my wytt[e]s / wearen vnsad,
(thanked be owr lorde Ihesu christ of all !)
suche have I now / but blowe is ny ovar all 257
the reverse / where-thorwghe is the mornynge
whiche cawsethe me / thus syghe ^ in complaynynge.
(38)
and small wit as
I had.
It's less now.
sythen my good fortune / hathe changed his ^ chere,
It's high time for hye time is me / to crepe in-to my grave,
to lyve Ioy[e]les / what do I here 1
261
I in myne herte / can no gladnes have ;
I may but small sey / but yf men deme I rave, 264
sythen othar thinge the[n] * woo / may I none grype,
vnto my sepulture / ame I nowe ripe. 266
3it
syje • hir
pKn
ZZ. HOOOIiByB's OOMFLAIKT. FOLKS OAN't BBB THAT I*M WELL. 105
(39)
My well, adwe / farwell, my good fortune ! 267 my 9s>^ h*p
out of yowr tables / me playned have ye ;
sythen well ny eny wyght / for to comune
with me lothe is / farweU prosperitie ! hu gone.
I am no lengar / of your lyverye ; 271
ye have me put / out of yowr remembraunce ; ^
adewe, my good adventure / and good chaunce ! 273
(40)
And as swithe after / thus by-tbowght I me : 274
yf that I in this wyse / me despeyre, Butstm,
It is purchase / of more advarsytye ;
what nedethe it / my feble wit appeire ;
sythe god hathe made / myne helthe home repayre 278 i wn weii again,
blessed be he / and what men deme or* speke, '*^*n^ Qod;
suffre it, thinke I / and mo not on me wreke. 280
(41)
but some dele bad I / reioysynge amonge, 281 n«*f 7]
and gladnese ' also / in my spirite,
that thowghe the people / toke them mis & wronge, «nd tho* folk
don't tliink me »0t
me demynge / of my syck[e]nesse not quite,
yet for they / compleyned / the bevy plite 285 they fi»i for me.
that they had sene me in / with tendemesse
of hertes cherte / my grefe was the lesse. 287
(42)
In them put I no defawlte but one ; 288
that I was hole / they not ne deme kowlde, They can't Miev«
' ^ I'm well,
and day by day / they se me by them gon
In heate and colde / and neythar still nor lowde
knew they me do suspectly / a dirke clowde 292
theyr * sygbt obscuryd / ifUhAn * and with-out[e],
and for all that / were they ^ in suche a dowt[e]. 294
^ retenaunoe ' and ' a gladnesse ^ Hir
• withynne • ay
106
xz. hooclbvb's complaint, a moubner's complaint.
tho' my fellow-
clerks of the
Privy-Seal have
told them I am.
The other day
a book of consol-
ation by
Eeason^
comforted me.
[leaf 7, back]
Thomas^
A mournful man
oomplalnd of
(i3)
Axid have ^ they / full ofte sy the, and freined 296
of my fellaw[e]8 / of the prive seale,
and preyed them to tell them / with ^ hert vnfeynyd,
how it stode wy th me / whither yll ^ or well.
and they the sothe / told them every dell, 299
hut they helden / ther word[e]8 not hut les ;
they myghten as well / have holden ther pes. 301
(44)
This trouhly lyfe / hathe all to longe enduryd, 302
not have I wyst / how in my skynne to turne ;
hut now my selfe / to my selfe have ensured^
for no suche wondrynge / aftar this to mome ;
as longe as my lyfe / shall in me soiome, 306
of suche ymaginynge / I not ne reche ;
lat them drem * as them ^ lyst / and speke & dreche.
(45)
This othar day / a lamentacion 309
of a wofull man / in a hoke I sj'e,
to whome word[e]s / of consolation
Eeason gave ^ / spekynge eflFectually ;
and well easyd / myn herte was ther-hy ; v313
for when I had a while / in the hoke red,
with the speche of Reason / was I well fed. 315
(46)
The hevy man / wofull and angwysshiows, 316
compleyned in this wyse / and thus seyd he :
* my lyfe is vnto me / full enconherows ;
for whithar / or vn-to what place I flye,
my wyckednesses / evar followe ^ me, 320
as men may se / the shadow a hody swe,
and in no manor / I may them eschwe. 322
^ Axide han ' mp • yuel * deem • hem
* added later in margin "^ ^af ^ folowen
^
/^dS~y
C/ifZiZi,
) ^^^. C^^ C^^^^:^)
XX. hoooleve's complaint, reason oomforts the mourner. 107
323 vexatkNi,
327
329
330 and Wight for
death.
(47)
' vexation of spirits / and torment
lake I right none / I have of them plente ;
wondarly byttar / is my taa[s]t^ and sent ;
wo be the ^ tyme / of my naty vyte,
vnhappy man / that ovar shuld it ^ be I
deathe, thy strooke / a salve is of swetnes
to them that lyven / in suche wrechednes.
(48)
' Gretar plesaunce / were it me to dye,
by many f olde / than for to ly ve soo ;
sorovvs so many / in me multiplye,
that my lyfe is / to me a wery * foo ;
comfortyd / may I not be of my woo ;
of my distrese / se none end I can,
no force how sone / I stinte to be a man.'
(49)
Than spake Reason / ' what menythe all this fare? 337 Keason^
thowghe welthe be not frindly to the yet,
out of thyn herte / voyde wo and care ! '
* by what skyll / how / and by what rede and wit,'
8eyd[e] this wofuU man / *myght I done iiV 341
334
336
sThomas*
* wrastle,' qwode Reason / * a-gayno hevynesses
of the worlde / troubles, sufifring and duresses. 343
(50)
* beholde how many a man / suffrethe desseas[e]
as great as thow / and all a way greatar ;
and thowghe it them pinch e / sharply and sese,
yet paciently / they it sufifar and here :
thynke here-on / and the lesse it shall the dere : 348
suche sufEeiaunce is / of mans gylt clensynge,
and them inablethe / to loye evarlastinge. 350
Reason*
344 to look at other
folks' greater ills
^ laast > be be '1
^ later, in the margin.
* verre
108
XZ. HOOOLEVS'S OOMFLAINT. I HBAB REASON.
[leaf 8]
Troable is com-
moD to all,
and should be
borne
as a pnnisliment
for sin.
I took Reason's
teaching to heart,
(51)
' WOO, hevynes / and tribulation, 351
comon are ^ to men ^ all / & profitable.
thowghe grevows be / niann[e]s temptacion,
It sleythe man not / to them that ben sufferable,
and to whom god[de]s stroke / is acceptable, 355
purveyed loye is / for god woundythe tho
that he ordeyned bathe / to blysse to goo / 357
(52)
* Gold purgyd is / thou seyst, in the fumeis, 358
for the fyner and clenner / it shall be ;
of thy disease / the weyght and the peis
here lyghtly / for god, to prove the,
scorgyd the bathe / with sharpe adversitie; 362
not gruche and sey / " why susteyn I this 1 *'
for yf thow do / thow the takest amis ; 364
(53)
* but thus thow shuldest / thinke in thyn herte, 365
and sey, " to the, lorde god / I have a-gylte
so sore : I moot / for myn ofifensis smerte
as I am worthy / lorde, I am spilt,
but thow to me / thy^ mercy graunt[e] wilt. 369
I am full swre / thow maist it not denye ;
lord, I me repent / and I tho mercy crye."' 371
(54)
lenger I thowght[e] / red haue in this boke, 372
but so it shope / that I ne myght[e] nowght ; *
he that it owght / agayne it to * hym toke,
me of his haste vnware / yet have I cawght
sume of the doctryne / by reason tawght 376
to the man / as a-bove have I sayde,
where-of ^ I hold[e] me / full well apayde. 378
aren
me ' >i ; the St. * nau^t * to to, Dm.
• Wel]»#rof.
a /^<f5^(i:/^:».3 ") ^64-o<^ ^^^22^4^- (S)>cc^-
h)
zz. hooolevb's oomplaint. I'll bbab mt troublbs.
109
(55)
for evar sythen / set haue I the lease
by the peoples / ymagination,
talkynge this and that / of my sycknesse,
,whiche came of god[de]s visytacion ;
myght I have be found / in probation,
not grutchynge / but have take it in soffraunce,
holsome and wyse / had be my govemaunce.
(56)
farwell my sorow / I caste it to the cok.
with pacience / I hens-forthe thinke vnpike
of suche thowghtfull dissease and woo / the lok,
and let them out / that have me made to sike \
here-aftar owr lorde god / may, yf hym lyke,
make all myne olde a£fection resorte ;
and in hope of that / woll I me comforte.
(57)
379
and have since
put up with folks'
talk of my illnesa.
383
385
386 [lesf 8. back]
I'll unpick the
lock of my woes,
let them out.
390
392
393
Thrwghe ^ gods iust dome / and his iudgement,
and for my best[e] / now I take and deme,
gave 2 that good lorde / me my punishement :
in welthe I toke of hym / none hede or yeme,
hym for to please / and hym honoure and queme, 39?
and he me gave a hpne / on for to knaw[e],
me to correcte / and of hym to have awe. 399
and take my
punishment for
the best.
God gave me a
bone to gnaw.
(58)
he gave me wit / and he toke it away
when that he se ' / that I it mys dyspent[e],
and gave agayne / when it was to his pay,
he grauntyd me / my giltes to repent[e],
and hens-forwarde / to set myne entent[e],
vnto his deitie / to do plesaunce,
and to amend / my synfuU govemaunce.
400
404
406
I'll now try to
please Ctod and
to amend.
> Thorn?
;af
sy
, /ioS^/f 2a/^«4c«/ C-y^ . (%<^
^J
no
XXI. HOOOLBVB's DIAliOa. HIS TALE WITH A FRDEND
(69)
I thank Htm lawde and honore / and thanke vnto the be,
lorde god / that salve art / to all hevynes 1
thanke of my welthe / and myne adversyte,
thanke of myne elde / and of my sek[e]ne8e ;
and thanke be / to thyne Infinite goodnese
and appeal to Hit for thy gyftes and benefices all[e],
and vnto thy mercye and grace I call[e].
407
naercy.
411
413
a
ll.O^{ciH- 2'*)/''
Dialogue with a
Friend,
[leaf 9]
A friend knocks
at my door.
I ask him In,
and read my
* Complaint 'to
him.
[Thomas Hoccleve (in Stowe's hand).]
[BialOgUjS cum ^tmiCO.] a^ter, in pencil)
(1)
A nd, endyd my * complaynt * / in this manere, 1
one knocked / at my chambre dore sore,
and cryed a-lowde / * howe, hoccleve ! arte thow
here?
open thy dore / me thinkethe [it] full yore
sythen I the se / what, man, for god[de]8 ore 5
come out / for this quartar I not the sy,
by owght I wot * / and out to hym cam I. 7
(2)
This man was my good frynde / of fam a-gon, 8
that I speke of / and thus ^ he to me seyde :
* Thomas / as thow me lovest, tell 4-non ^
what dydist thow / when I knocked and leyde
so fast upon thy dore * / And I obeyde 12
vnto his will / ** come in,*' quod I, **and se."
and so he dyd / he streyght went in with me. 14
(3)
To my good frind / not thowght I to make it queinte,^
ne my labowre / from hym to hyde or leyne ; 16
and right anon / I redd hym my * complaynt ' ;
and that done / thus he seyde, * sen we twayne
bene here / and no mo folke / for god[de]8 peyne, 19
^us.
* anoon
quette
f^/Lor (cf¥^-i.^ M^rr^, T>^*/; (^^
HOOOLEVB's dialog. I INSIST ON PUBLISHING MT ' COMPLAINT.' Ill
29
33
Thomas, soffar me speke / and be not wrothe,
for the to offend[e] / were me full lothe.
(4)
* That I shall saye / shall be of good entent[e] :
hast thow made this complaynte / forthe to goo
amonge the people * / " ye, friend ; " so I ment[e] ;
what ells ^ / * Nay, Thomas, ware, do not soo !
yf thou be wyse / of that mattar hoo,
reherse thow it not / ne it a- wake ;
kepe all that cloos / for thyn honours sake.
(5)
* how it stodo with the / leyde is all anslepe ;
men haue forget it / it is owt of mynd ;
that thou towche there-of / I not ne kepe ;
let be ; that rede I / for I can not finde
man to speake of it / in as good a kynde
as thow hast stonde / amonge men or this day,
stondyst thow nowe ' / " A, nay," quod I, " nay, nay !
(6)
" Thowghe I be lewde / I not so fere-forthe dote ;
1 wott what men haue seyde / and seyne of me ;
ther word[e]s have I not / as yet forgote ;
but greate marvayle have I / of yow, that yo
no bet of my * compleynte ' / avysed be,
sythen, mafey / I not redd it vnto yow
so longe a-gone / for it was but right now.
(7)
" If ye toke hede / it makethe mention
that men of me speke / in myne audience
full hevely / of your entencion
I thanke you / for of benevolence,
wott I full well / procedith yowr sentence ;
but certis, good frinde / that thinge that I here,
can I witnesse / and vnto it refere.
1 ellis
21
22
My fHend advlaes
me not to make
26 my * Complaint'
public,
28
40
42
47
49
aa folk have for-
gotten my luna<7.
I reflise.
36 [leaf 9, back]
43 M men talk of my
illnesa in my
hearing.
112 HOOOL. DIALOO. I SUFFER BT OOD's WILL, NOT MY OWN ILL-DXBD8.
and I'm not
ashamed or Ood's
ponlabment.
I also want men
to know that
JeauB has cured
me.
(8)
'^ And where as that ye / me counseile and rede, 50
that for myne honore / showlde I by no weye
any thiuge mynge / or towche of my wildhede,
I vnto that / annswere thus and saye :
of god[de]8 stroke / how so it peyse or waye, 54
owght no man to thinke / reprefe or shame ;
his chastisynge / hurtithe no mans name. 56
(9)
** An othar thinge / ther mevithe ^ me also ; 57
sythen my 8yck[e]iiesse / sprad was so wyde
that men knew well / how it stode with me tho,
so would I now / vpon that othar syde
wist were / how our lord Ihe«u, which is gyde 61
to all relefe / and may all hertes cure,
relevyd hathe me / synfull creature. 63
(10)
" had I be for an homysede yknowe, 64
I'm not a thief or or an extorcioncr / or a robbowr,
a coin-clipper, or
or for a coin ^ dypper / as wyde y-blowe
as was my syckenese / or a werriowr
a-gayne the fay the / or a falce mayntaynowr 68
of cawsys / thowghe I had a-mendyd me,
them to have mynged / [would] have been nicete ; 70
(11)
[leaf 10] " And why / for tho proceden of frailtie 71
of man hym selfe / he brewythe all[e] tho ;
for sythen god to man / gy ven * hathe libertie,
a wiirw evil-doer, which chcse may / for to do well or no,
yf he myse-chese / he is his owne foo ; 75
and to reherse his gilt / whiche hym accusethe,
honor saythe nay / there he scilence excusithe. 77
^ mene)>
' coin S. comon Dm.
• jone
aji6:r(c,^:,^\y,/^^-]^^^ fA^
but only a sufferer
from the stroke of
Ood.
If a doctor had
eurod me,
he'd have been
highly praisd.
zxi. hocclevb's dialog, he complains of light coin.
(12)
'' bat this is / all a-nothar case sothelye : 78
this was the stroke of god / he gave me this ;
and sythe he hathe / withe-drawe it curteisly,
am I not holden [tell] it owt / yes ;
but yf god had this thanke / it wer amyse.^ 82
In feythe, frinde / [I thenke] make an open ^ shryfte,
and hyd[e] not / what I had of his gyfte. 84
(13)
" If that a leche / curyd had me so, — 85
as they lacken all / that science and myght, —
a name he shulde / have had for evar mo,
what cure he had done / to so seke a wight.
and yet my purs / he wolde have made full lyght ; 89
but curteys Ihc«u / of his grace pacient,
axith not / but of gilte amendement. 91
(14)
" The benefice of god / not hyd be shuld[e] : 92
sythen of myne hele / he gave me triacle,
It to confese / and thanke hym, am ^ I hold[e],
for he in me hathe shewyd his myracle ;
his vysytacion is a spectacle 96
in whiche that I / beholde may and se,
bet then I dyd / how great a lorde is he. 98
(15)
" but, frind, amonge the vises that right now 99
rehersed I, one of them, dare I saye,
hathe hurt me sore / and I wot well ynow
so hathe it mo / which is f eble * moneye : "gw oo^n.
many a man this day / but they gold wey[e], 103
of men / not wole it take ne receyve,
and yf it lake his peis / they woll^ it weive. 105
113
Surely then I
shouldn't hide
God's benefits to
me.
Among present
vices la that of
^ MS. anyse * make I thenke an open
* feole St. • wole
HOOOLBVB, M.P. — U.
' as Dm.
Il4 hooolsvb's dialog, hb complains of washt and cuft ooin.
PMf 10, twdc]
Folk elip ooln«
and hurt the
poor.
The poor tre
injured by coins
thind ft dipt.
T have been.
Sweaters of coin
should be hung.
(16)
^'how may it holde his peise / when it is waishe 106
so that it lackethe ^ / somewhat in thiknese 1
the falce people / no thinge them ahashe
to clyp it eke /in * brede and in rowndnese,
in that ^ it shulde be / alweye the lesse : 110
the pore man / amonge all othar is
fall sore anoyed / and grevyd in this. 112
(17)
'* If it be golde and hole / that men hym prof re 113
for his labowre / or his chafPar lent,
take it yf him lyst / and put it in his coffre,
for wasshinge or clyppynge / hold hym content
or leve / he got none othar payment ; 117
it semythe but small / othar is there ;
trewthe is absent / but falshed is not fer. 119
(18)
"how shall the pore do / yf in his holde 120
no more money / he ne have at all,
par cas / but a noble / or half peny of golde,
and it so thin is / and so narowe and smale,
that men the eschaunge eschewen ovar all) 124
not will it goo / but moche * he there-one lese ;
he mote do so / he may none other chese. 126
(19)
" I myself in this case / bene have, or this, 127
wherefore I know it / a grete dell * the bett
he that in falsynge of coyne / gilty is,
hathe great wronge / that he nere * on a ' gebet ;
It is pitie / that he thereof rom is let, 131
sythen he there-to hathe / so great title and right :
Eeigne lustice / and preve on them thy myght ! 133
^ lacke ' it eke it in ' in than ; is that St.
* miche * dele • nere S. ' )>e.
^f^o^ (c,^z,ZL)S^t/tM^.'DiaJ, {Qa^^ K
XXI. hooolbvb's dialog, op sweaters and false ooinbbs. 115
(20)
" when I this wrote / many me dyd amyse ; 134
they weyed gold / vnhad aucthoritie ;
no statute [made] was ^ then / as [fat] now ^ is ;
hut sythen golde to wey / chargid now hen we, Now an Act of
Eeason axith / that it oheyed he ; 138 weighing of ooim
now tyme it is / unto weight[e]s vs draw[e],
sythen that the parlyament / hathe made it a la we. 140
(21)
" yet othar shrewes / done a worse gyn ; 141 Deaf ii]
and tho hene they / that the coyne countarfete, counterfeiters of
, i-ii 1, 1 0®^** make them*
and they that with gold / coper, cloth and tyn, selves a seat in
to make all seme gold / they swinke and swete
In hell[e] for to purchace / them a sete : 145
If thethar lede them / theyr * falce covetise,
that purchas made was / in a foltyshe wyse. 147
(22)
"what cawsethe, trowe* ye / all this mischance ? 148
what comforte gyven * is / to this vntrwthe %
In fey the, men seyne / it is the mayntynance Tiie evii is done
by tlie mainten-
of great[e] folke / whiche is great ^ harme & ruthe. ance of great folk,
god graunt here-aftar / that ther he no slowthe,^ 152
of this treason / punishement to do,
ryght such as that is / partinent ther-to. 154
(23)
" they that consenten / to do that falshede, 155
as well as the werkars / withe peyne egall
punished ^ owght to he / as that I rede. who ought to be
now, manyteynors / he ware now of a fall !
I speke of no parson / in especiall ^ ; 159
In contries dyvers / is there many one
of yow / and hathe hene^^ / many a day a-gon. 161
' made was ; was Dm. ^ Jat nowe ; now St. ' her
* trowen • Jouen ^ a great ^ slou)>e ; show)>e Dm.
8 punischid ^ special ^^ be
I 2
116
XXL HCHXILBYB's dialog. OV THl FAUUKG Of COIN.
F«1m coining
harms the king
and the people.
(24)
'^ Alas / that to owr Kyng[e]8 preiudice, 162
and harme to all / his lige people trew[e],
Continue shall / this fowle and cursed vice
of falsynge of coyne / not begone of new[e], 165
whiche / and it forthe goo / many one shall it rew[e].
Grod and our Kynge / remedye all this grefe^
for to the people / it is a foule mischefe. 168
(25)
169
who call for ven-
geance on the
fiUae moneyen.
** by comon harme / is not small to set[te] ;
that venom / ovar wyde and brod[e] spredethe :
grete merit were it / suche thinge stope and let[te],
as that the comon / iu-to myschefe ledythe. 172
the voyce of the people / vengaunce on yow gredithe,
ye cursed men / ye false moneyours,
and on yowre outeris / and yowr maynteynours I 175
[leaf 11, bade]
But I fear theee
cursed fellows
won't be punisht.
(26)
" 0, this I drede alweye / this heviethe me 176
many a sythe / that punishemeut
none fall[e] shall / on this cursed meynye ;
how trewe so be / ther enditement,^
owr lyge lorde / shall be so Innocent, 180
that vnto hym / shall hyd be y* notice ;
vnwasshen gold / shall wasshe * a-way that vice. 182
(27)
" Enformed shalbe / his hie excellence 183
by menes / whom that the lady moneye
hath rowned with / and shewyd evidence
In plate / that all wronge is that men seye
they'll trick him, of that false folke / my sowle dare I laye, 187
and eiicape. « ■» # i •
tho mens ^ shullen have / no defectyve plate ;
here receyte shall be / good and fyne algate. 189
Tli</ the King '11
be told who the
false coiners are,
^ enditeroent ; entendement St. ' waisahe ; vanyahe St
> meenes
o^Uer (c /^ a ^ 9iUr:J^. 1>^M_. (-9.
XXI. hooclbvb's diaiiOo. I'll bnolibh * learn to die,' 117
(28)
*' Nowe in good faythe / I drede there shall be 190
suche multitude / of that falce secte
with-in this two yere / or ellis thre,
but yf this stynkynge errowr / be correcte, ifthiieviii«n't
corrootod*
that so myche ^ of this land / shall be infecte 194
there-with, that trewthe shall a-downe be throw[e], truth wui b«
and that cursed falshed / it^ overgrow[e]. 196
(29)
" lo, frinde / nowe haue I myne entent vnreke 197
of my longe tale / displese yow nowght."
* nay, Thomas, nay / but late me to the speke :
when thy compleynt / was to the end ybrowght, My Mend uki
cam it owght in thy purpos / and thy thowght, 201 to writ?.* ' "**"
owght ell[e]s thcr-with / to have made than that 1 '
" ye, certayne, frind " / * nowe, good Thomas, what V
(30)
"frinde, that I shall you tell / as blyve, y-wys : 204 [i«»fitj
in latyn have I sene / a small tretis[e], ive seen a Latin
,., . . ^ , ,,T 11 1. treatiie * Learn to
whiche * lerne for to dye / I-callyd is : au;
a bettar restreynte / know I none fro vice : 207
for whan that deathe / shall men * from hence * trice,
but he that lesson / lemed have or than,
war that / for* deathe comethe, wot ther no wyght whan.
(31)
** And that have I purposed to translate, 211 and i me«n to
If god his grace / lyst ther-to me lene,
sythen he of helthe / hathe openyd me the gate ;
for where my sowle is / of vertwe all lene,
and thrwghe my bodyes gilt / fowle® & vnclene, 215
to clens it / some-what by translation
of it, shall be / myne occupation. 217
^ moche ^ it ; is St. ^ man * hennes
* for ; and St. • & fowle St.
A?i&:r(c /^^ ^ j
118
XXI. hocclive's dialog. i*ll bngush * learn to die.'
(32)
218
ThU treatise 11
make men take
aocoant of their
■ins.
" for I not only / but, as that I hope,
many an othar wight / eke there- by shall
his consyence / [ful] tenderly grope,
and withe hym selfe acompte, & reken of all
that he hathe in his ^ lyfe / wrowght, great & ^ small,
while he tyme hathe / & freshe wit and vigowr,
and not abyde / vnto his dethes howr. 224
221
(33)
** man may m this tretis / here-aftarward,
yf that hym lyke / rede and beholde,
and not delay till consyder and^e well / that it is full hard
death. delay accompts / tyll lyfe begyne to colde ;
short tyme is then / of his offencis olde
to make a iust / and trew[e] rekenynge ;
sharpnes of peyne / is there-to great hindringe.
(34)
ne«f 12, back] " Not hath ^ me stiryd / my devocion
to do this labour / ye shullan vndarstond[e],
I do this transu- but at the exitynge / and monicion
of*r devout man^ of a devout mau / take I here on hond[e]
this labowr / and as I cane,* wole I fond[e]
his reade, thrwghe gods grace, to parforme,
thowghe I be bare / of intellecte and forme.
and when it's
flnisht, I shall
write no more.
(35)
" And whan that endyd is / I nevar thinke,
more in englyshe aftar / be occupied ;
I may not labowr / as I dyd, and swinke ;
my lust is not there-to / so well applied
as it hathe bene / it is ny mortyfied ;
wherefore I cesse thinke / be this done,
the night approchethe / it is fer past none.
225
229
231
232
236
238
239
243
245
» this
or ^ corr. from *have I,' iu St
* came
;itr^, 1>2^ . (5)^. U)
XXI. HOCOLEVB's dialog. I'm 63, OLD AND SORROWFUL. 119
(36)
** Of age am I fifty winter and thre \ 246 i am ss;
Eipenesse of dethe / fast Tpon me hastethe ; ^
my lymes sumdell / now vnweldy be ;
all my syght apperithe faste, and wastithe, my sight is im-
and my concey te / a dayes now / not tastetne 250 mind too.
as it hathe done / in yeres precedent ;
now all a-nother is my sentement.^ \8t(noe ends,! 252
— 1 =— — " ' — ■""— 7 T-
(37) [Hoccleve's parchment begvis.] ?«*/-f^3^ (C /^;?:j J
*' More am I heuy now vp-on a day, 253 peaf isj , ^
Than I sum tyme was in dayes fyne ; ^^^i^^C-c-^ M)'<^i^
Thynge fat or this me thoghte game & play,
Is emest now / ^the hony fro the hyue The honey is
Of my spirit withdrawith wondir blyue; 257 hive of my spirit.
Whan al is doon / al this worldes swetnesse
At ende tometh in-to bittimesse.* 259
(38)
" The fool, thurgfe loue of this lyf present, JiJ'^lJi^ii;'^^^^^^
Deceyued is / but the wys man woot weel ***'
How ful this world of sorwe is, and torment ; The world is run
Wherfore in it / he trustith nat a deel :
Thogfi a man this day / sitte hye on the wheel, 264
To morwe he may be tryced from his sete ;
This hath be seen often / among the grete. 266
(39)
" How fair thyng / or how precious it be 267 Fair things are
\)at in the world is / it is lyk" a flour, '
To whom / nature yeuen hath beautee
Of fressh heewe / and of ful plesant colour ;
With soote smellynge also, and odour; 271
But as soone as it is bicomen drye, and soon lose
„ ill f 1 r ***•*'■ colott"^ and
ffarwel colour / and the smel gynneth° dye. 273 scent.
^ now hasti]> ' sentement
^ A later hand (? Stowe's) has written *then' over the line as if it were left out.
* * tornithe in to bittyemisse, is repeated below in a later hand.
* A later hand writes * be'gynneth * to. * At foot : *hongrie men seem diyures,* &c.
rjd.
^^J^^ ^ (cf^i^-x)
120 ZXI. HOCCLKVS'B dialog. I HAVB TO PRKPARX FOR MT DKATH.
[iMflS^lMek]
Majesty pMMS
like a tree'*
shadow.
Property Is lent
OS for a time;
but Death soon
depriTesosofit.
Isn't it wise to
provide against
Death?
[leaf 14]
' Yes, Thomas
Hoocleve ;
bat yonr brain is
weak.
(40)
" Bial mig&t and eerthely magestee, 274
Welthe of the world / and longe & Uxte dayes,
Passen / as dooth the shadwe of a tree ;
Whan deeth is come / ther be no delayes \
The worldes trust is brotil^ at assayes ; 278
The wyse men / wel knowen this is sooth,
They knowen / what deceit to man it dooth. 280
(41)
" Lond / rente / cattel / gold / honour / richesse, 281
\>a\, for a tyme lent been to been ouris,
fforgo we shole / sonner than we gesse.
Paleses / Maners / Castels grete & touris
Shal vs bireft be / by deeth J)at ful sour is ; 285
Shee is the rog& besom / which shal vs aH
Sweepe out of this world / whan god list it faft. 287
(42)
" And syn ]>at shee shal of vs make an ende, 288
Holsum is, hii^ haue ofte in remembrance,
Or shee hir messager seeknesse vs sende.
H Now, my freend / so good yeue yow good chaunce,
Is it nat good to make a purucance 292
Ageyn the comynge of \ai messageer.
That we may stande in conscience cleer 1 " 294
(43)
IF ' yis, Thomas, yis / thow hast a good entente,^ 295
But thy werk / hard is to parf ot^rme, I dreede ;
Thy brayn, par cas / ther-to nat wole assente,
And wel thow woost / it moot assente neede
Or thow aboute brynge swich a deede : 299
Now in good feith / I rede as for the beste,
J3at purpos caste out of thy myndes cheste. 301
* IreiUy first.
' lohan Medwell, faster my lord Chamberlain, . . per prise
[at top]. Also, later, ' W. Browne.' At foot, ' Thomas Oarterys.'
9L^. T>^U (S>^. U)
hooolkyb's dialog, but I'm still wbll bnouoh to work. 121
(44)
* Thy bisy studie aboute swich mateere 302
Hath causid thee / to stirte in-to the plyt
That thow were in / as f er as I can heere ;
And thogti thow deeme / thow be there-of* qwyt /
Abyde / and thy purpos putte in respyt 306
Til ]>at right wel stablisshid be thy brayn ;
And ther-to thanne / I wole assente fayn. 308
(45)
* Thogh a strong fyr / ]>at was in an berth late, 309
Withdrawen be / and swept away f ul cleene /
yit aftirwar^ / bothe the berth and plate
Been of the fyr warm / thogh no fyr be seene
There as jiat it was / and right so I meene : 313
Al-thogh past be the grete of thy seeknesse /
yit lurke in thee may sum of hir warmnesse.' 315
(46)
IF " 0, what is yow, freen(J / benedicitee 1 316
Eight now, whan I yow redde my * conpleynte,*
Made it nat mynde / it standith wel with me ?
Myn herte with your speeche gynneth feynte.
Shuld we be now / al neewe to aqweynte, 320
J)at ban so wel aqweynted be f ul yore 1
What / ban yee now lemed a neewe lore 1 322
(47)
" Han yee lemed / your freend for to mis-truste
And to his wordes / yeue no credence 1
If your frendshipe cancre so and ruste,
Sore wole it trouble myn innocence,
Jjat ay yow holden haue in existence 327
A verray freend / certes, sore am I greened,
That yee nat leeue / how god me hath releeued.^ 329
^ Later, in margin: 'Ryght worshipefull Fa.' At foot,
' Hereof se . . Thomas C
* Your writing
hu made you
crackt again.
*Stop work till
yoar brain's
right.'
[leaf 14, iMck]
Hocclere re-
proaches his
friend:
I told yon I was
well.
323 Whydoyoa
mistrust me P
!t:l^'(^''v='0
122 XXI. HOOCLEYE'S DIAtOO. FRIENDSHIP SHOULD LAST FOB EVEB.
A fcnie friend
tnuU hit friend.
(48)
" Who so nat leeueth / what fat a man seith,
Is signe pat he trustith him but lyte.
A verray freend yeueth credence & feith
Vn-to his freend / what so he speke & wryte.
ffrendshipes lawe / nat worth wei* a myte,
If fat vntrust / vn-to it wei* annexid ;
Vntmst liath many a wight ful sore vexid.
330
334
336
Peaf 15]
I Towd to stick
toyoo.
(49)
" I with my seluen made foreward, 337
Whan with the knotte of frcndshipe I me knytte
Vn-to yow, fat I neuere aftirward
Fro fat hy bond departe wolde, or flitte;
Which keepe I wole ay / o, your wordes sitte 341
Ny to myn herte / and thogfi yee me nat loue,
My loue fro yow / shal ther no wight shoue. 343
Tally says that .
Friendship lasts
for ever.
(50)
" TuUius seith / fat frendshipe verray
Endurith euere / how-so men it assaiH ;
f&endshipe is noon / to loue wel this day,
Or yeeres outhir / and aftirwisird faiti.
A freend to freend / his peyne & his trauaiii
Dooth ay / frendshipe to keepe & conserue
Til dethes strook^ fat bond a-sondir kerne.
344
348
350
Solomon says so
too.
(51)
" To this matii^ accordith Salomon — 361
yee knowe it bet than I by many fold :
Ones freend / and holde euere ther vp-on.
In your frendshipe wei* a slipir hold,
If it abate wolde and wexe cold, 356
Jjat vn-to now hath been bothe hoot & warm ;
To yow wei* it repreef / and to me harm. 357
XXL hocolbyb's dialog, hts fribnd bids him not overwork. 123
(52)
371
" If fat me list in this mateere dw^,^
And it along / for to drawe and dilate,
Auctoritees an heep^ kowde I yow teH
Of frendshipe / but stynte I moot algate,
Or elles wole it be ful longe & late 362
Or I haue endid my purposid werk«,
flfor feeble is my conceit, & dul & derk«. 364
(53)
" But as fat I seide eer / and sooth it is, 366
My sclendrc wit feele I as sad and stable
As eue?'e it was at any tyme or this :
Thank id be our lord Ihe^u merciable ! "
' IF Yit, Thomas, herkne a word, and be souffrable, 369
And take nat my speeche in displesance ;
In me shalt thow fynde no variance.
(54)
* I am thy freend / as fat I haue ay been,
And eue?*e wole / doute it nat al.
But truste wel, it is but seelden seen
J3at any wight / fat caght hath swich a fal
As thy seeknesse was / fat aftir shal 376
Be of swich disposiciown and might
As he was erst / and bo seith euery wight. 378
(55)
* Of studie was engendred thy seeknesse,^ 379
And fat was hard / woldest [thow] now agayn
Entre into fat laborious bisynesse,
Syn it thy mynde and eek thy wit had slayn \
Thy conceit is nat worth a payndemayn : 383
Let be / let be/ bisye thee so no more,
Lest thee repente / and reewe it ouersore. 386
^ Later, in margin : * Is the same ene (?)... he me life in.'
* In a later hand at top : * p«r me peter hardy of" halyfaz ' ;
then, rubd out, 'ows this bok.'
368 Deaf 15, back]
Bat I'll stop
talking.
tho' my mind is
as Arm as ever it
was.
Hocclme'g friend,
Thomas,
yon shall find no
changing in me.
372 ^^^ 70<ur friend.
Deaf 16]
Yoar illness came
from oventady.
Don't be silly
enough to do it
again.
^4/V30 ^^^^2^
124 XXI. HOOOLBYI'S DIALOG. HB JOTS IN MUSING OVER HIS BOOKS.
(56)
* My reed proceedith nat of froward wil,
But it is seid of verray freendly-bede
£Eor if 80-causid seeknesse on me fil
As dide on the i rig&t euene as I thee rede,
So wolde I do my self / it is no drede ;
Solomon bids yoo And Salomon bit / aftir conseil do ;
do u you're
advised. And good is it / conforms thee ther-to.
(57)
* He fat hath ones in swich plyt y-fati,
But he wol rule him / may in slippen eft :
This rede I thee / for aght fat may befatt,
▲s God has cured Syu fat sseknesss god hath theo b3rreft,
avoid its cause. The cause eschue / for it is good left,
Namely, thyng of thogfitful studie kaght,
Perillous is / as fat hath me been taght.
[leaf IC, bade]
Tou love to pore
on your books.
Give up your
studies.
(58)
IF ' Eigfit as a theef fat hath eschapid ones^
The roop / no dreede hath eft bis art to vse.
Til fat the trees him weye vp, body and bones,
So looth is him / his sory craft refuse /
Sa farest thow / ioie hastow for to muse
Vp-on thy book" / and thei'-in stare & poure,
Til fat it thy wit / consume and deuoure.
(59)
* I can no more / the latter' erroui*
Wers is, rede I / than fat fat was befom ;
The smert of studie / pgfite be miroui*
To thee / let yit thy studie be forbom.
Haue of my wordes / no desdeyn or scorn ;
ffor fat I seye / of freendly tendemesse
I seye it al / as wisly god me blesse.
386
390
392
393
397
399
400
404
406
407
411
413
^ Written up the side in a later hand :
Know er thow kynt Pmyt, p. 152], and then thow mays! slak^ ;
Ifi thou knyt er thow know, then hytt ys to late. (See p. 152.)
^^UJ. i>^li> fS)^ - u)
hooqusvb'b Duix)a. mt mabnbss didn't oome vbom bookwork. 125
(60)
* If thee nat list vp-on thy self to reewe, 414
Thomas, who shal reewe vpon thee, I preye 1
Xow do foorth, let see / and thyn harm reneewe ;
And heuyei' / shal it peise and weye
Than it dide eer / ther-to my lyf I leye,
Which thee wolde ouer mochil harme & greeue.'
" ffreend, as to fat / answer' I shal by leeue.^
(61)
** Where-as fat yee deemen of me, and trowe 421
That y of studie my disese took*, —
Which conceit eek* / among the peple is so we / —
Trustith right wel / fat neuere studie in book*
Was cause / why my mynde me forsook* 425
But it 2 was causid of my long seeknesse,
And othir wyse nat / in soothfastnesse. 427
(62)
" And for-thy neuere aftir this / preye y yow, 428
Deemeth no more so / ne nat it mynge.
That men kneew I had seeknesse / is ynow,
ITiogh they make of the cause no serchynge ;
Ther cometh but smal frayt of swich deemynge. 432
To yow told haue I treewely the cause ;
Now let vs stynten heei' / & make a pause.
(63)
" In this keepe I no replicacioun ;
It is nat worth / the labour is in veyn ;
Shal no stirynge or excitacioun
Lette me of this labour, in certeyn.
Trustith wel this pourpos is nat sodeyn ; 439
Vp-on my wittes stithie hath it be bete
Many a day / of this no lenger trete.^ 441
^ Later scribbles at foot : * William . . thi . . nunny ny/ &c.
2 MS. is.
' Later, at foot : ' Lord, Haue merce upon all cresten solles . .
John taler . . sone frome the beg"/ kOf
If you won't take
pity on yooraelf,
who will ?
418
420 HoeeleveamwerB.
[leaf 17]
My insanity
did not oome ttom
book*study.
tat from my long
illnesa.
I don't care that
folk should know
aboutSt.
434 Let's drop it.
435
▲s to my intended
work.
I've thought
about it long,
CfY'^'^
)
126
XXI. HOOOLEVE 8 DIALOG. I WON'T OIVB UP MY WRITING.
[leaf 17, back]
for 5 years.
Friend.
Thomas, you're
not wise to follow
your own judg-
ment instead of
mine.
(64)
" I haue a tyme resonable abide
Or ihat I thoghte in this laboure me ;
And al to preeue my self, I so dide :
A man in his conceit / may serchee & see
In .V*. yeer / what he do may, pardee,
And aftir J)at take vp-on him, and do
Or leve / reson accordith heer-to."
(66)
IF * Thomas, holdist thow it a pradence,
Reed, weyue, and wirke aftir thyn owne wit 1
Seide y nat eer / fat Salomons sentence
To do by reed / and by Conseil, men bit ;
And thow desdeynest / for to folwen it.
What art thow now / presumptuous become,
And list nat of thy mis / been vndimome 1 '
442
446
448
449
453
455
(66)
Hoeeiwoe, fl" "Nay, frccnd / nat so / yee woot well, elles- where
Vnus sit tibi
consiliarius
inter mille
My friend, I feel
you are wrong.
[leaf 18]
I've told you
plainly how I
stand.
Salomon bit / ' oon be thy Conseillour 457
Among a .Mt.' and if fat yee were
As constant as yee han been or this hour.
By yow wolde I be red / but swich errour 460
In yot^r conceit I feele now, sanz faille.
That in this cas yee can nat wel consaill.^ 462
(67)
" ffor god woot / a blynd Cownseillour is he 463
Which fat conseille shal in a mateere.
If of a soothe / him list nat lemed be ;
And euene swich oon fynde I now nowheere.^
I pleynly told yow haue, the maneere 467
How fat it wit/i me standen hath / and stant ;
But of your trust to me ward, be ye scant. 469
^ In the begynnyng god be my speade wythe grace & vertu
[later, at bottom]. ^ MS . now heere*
y^Ucj, i>^^. (S)^. x)
XXI. hooolevb's dialog, hb is not to work too hard.
127
(68)
** Han yee agfit herd of me in communynge,
Wherthurgt yee ogfiten deeme of me amis ?
Haue I nat seid reson / to your thynkygne 1 "
IF * ffor soothe, Thomas / to my conceit / yis ;
But euere I am agast, & dreede this,
Thy wit is nat so mighty to susteene
That labour / as thow thy self woldest weene.'
(69)
"ffreend, as to fat, he lyueth nat fat can
Knowe / how it standi th with an othir wight,
So wel as him self / al-thogh many a man
Take on him more / than lyth in his might
To knowe / fat man is nat ruled right
]>ai so presumeth in his iugement :
Befom the doom / good wei^ auisament."
(70)
IF * Now, Thomas / by the feith I to god owe,
Had I nat taastid thee / as fat I now
Doon haue / it had been hard, maad me to trowe
The good plyt / which I feele wel fat thow
Art in / I woot wel thow art wel ynow,
What^so men of thee ymagyne or clappe,
Now haue I god, me thynkith, by the lappe.
(71)
470
474
477
481
483
484
488
490
* But al so hertly / as I can or may, 491
Syn fat thow wilt to fat labour thee dresse,
I preye thee / in al maneere way
Thy wittes to conserue / in hir fresshnesse ;
Whan thow ther-to goost / take of hem the lesse ; 495
To muse longe / in an hard mateere.
The wit of man abieth it f iil deere.' 497
Haven't 1 spoken
reason P
Hoeel9V€*» friend.
Tea; but your
mind won't bear
476 this new work.
Hoecleve,
Who can ^ndge
a man's state as
well as he him-
self?
Hoeolev0*$ friend,
[leaf 18, back]
Well, Thomas,
I've tested you,
and believe you
are fit.
And, as you wilt,
write.
keep your wits
fresny
and don't work at
too hard a subject.
11^' (" /^ » a)
128
XXI, BOCOLBVE 8 DIALOG. I WRITB BT FITS AND STARTS.
HoceUoe,
Ms bnlM won't
•tntch to that.
If I CAn't do my
work Msily,
I shall that my
book.
[leaf 19]
I Rball write by
Ktarta, aa the
fancy takes me,
and stop when it
slacks.
(72)
IF "ffreend, I nat medle of matires grete; 498
Ther-to nat strecche may myn intellect ;
I neucre yit was brent with studies hete ;
Let no man holde me tber-in suspect :
If I lightly / nat cacche may tbeffect 502
Of tbyng* in wbicb / laboure I me purpose,
A dieu my studie / anoon my book* I close. 504
(73)
*' By stirtes / wban ]>at a fressh lust me takith, 505
Wole I me bisye now and now a lyte ;
But whan fat my lust dullith and asslakitb,
I stynte wole / and no lengei' wryte ;
And pardee, freend / fat may nat byndre a myte, 509
As fat it seemetb to my symple auys ;
lugetb your self* / yee been prudent and wys." 511
(74)
Hoeeieve'ifiHttd. If * Sikir, Tbomas / if tbow do in swich wyse 512
Then I'm content. As fat tbow seist / I am ful wel content
J3at tbow vp-on thee take fat empryse
Which pat tbow has purposed and y-ment ;
Va-to fat ende / yeue y myn assent, 516
(jo now ther-to / in Ibe^u Crystes name ;
And as tbow baast me seid / do thou fat same. 518
(75)
* I am seur fat thy disposicioun 519
Is swich / fat tbow maist more take on boonde
Than I first wende in myn oppinioun,
By many fold / tbankid be goddes soonde I
Do foorth in goddes name / & nat ne woonde 523
Compose and To make and wryte / what thyng fat thee list :
write what you , . » . i / • x • j. cftc
like. pat 1 nat eer kneew / now is to me wist. 525
Set to work, in
Christ's name.
^ Later scribble at top : < Thomas . . Tomas Gairdynnayr' (f).
91^, 7>^U (^^.m)
XXI. hocolevb's dialog, meant for the duke of glo'ster. 129
(76)
* And of o tbyng / now wel I me remembre,
Why thow purposist in this book trauaiti :
I trowe pat in the monthe of Septembre
Now last, or nat fer from / it is no faiH, —
No force of the time^ / it shal nat auaiti
To my mateei* / ne it hyndre or lette, —
Thow seidist / of a book* thow wei^ in dette
(77)
526 [leaf 19, back]
630
532
But didn't you »ay
that yoo owd a
book
537
* Vn-to my lord / fat now is lieutenant,
My lord of Gloucestre / is it nat so 1 '
IF " Yis soothly, freend / and as by couenant
He sholde han had it many a day ago ;
But seeknesse and vnlust / and othir mo
Han be the causes of impediment."
IF ' Thomas / than this book" haast thow to him ment 1 '
(78)
IF " Yee sikir, freend, ful tree we is your deemynge ; 540
ffor him it is / ]>at I this book* shal make.
As blyue as pat I herde of his comynge
ffro ffrance / I penne and ynke gan to take,
And my spirit I made to awake,
pat longe lurkid hath in ydilnesse
ffor any swich labour or bisynesse.
533 to the Lord Lieu-
tenant, the Duke
ofGloRter?
Hoeelwe.
Yes, and he ought
to have had it
long ago.
544
546
My new book is
meant for him.
As soon as I heard
of his coming
IT acilicet de
secundo reditu
8U0 de ffrancia
firom France, I
took pen and ink.
(79)
"But of sum othir thyng / fayn trete I wolde.
My noble lordes herte / with / to glade.
As ther-to bownden am I deepe, & holde ;
On swich mateere / by god pat me made,
Wolde I bestowe many a balade,
Wiste I what / good freend / teli on what is best.
Me for to make / and folwe it am I prest.
547
[leaf 80]
But I'd like to
write somethhig
to gladden him
with.
551
553
^ MS thine ; but this is surely a writing mistake.
HOOOLBVE, M.P. — II.
^J^^ (^/y:La^
130 HOCCLBVB^S DIALOG. THE VALOUR OF THE DUKE OF OLO'bTER.
Next to our King
Henry V.,
no lord has been
M> good to me for
years as the
Duke.
I thought of
englishing for
him Vegetios on
Chivalrp,
but he Icnows it
all
Cherbourg bears
witness to his
▼alour.
[leaf 20, back]
He besieged it
and won it.
And before, he
won Constantine.
He is a famous
Prince.
(80)
" Next our lord lige, our kyng victorious, 554
In al this wyde world / lord is ther noon
Vn-to me so good ne so gracious,
And haath been swich / yeeres ful many oon :
God yilde it him / as sad as any stoon 558
His herte set is / and nat change can
ffro me, his humble seruant & his man. 560
(81)
"ffor him I thoghte ban translated Vegece 561
Which tretith of the art of Chiualrie,
But I see his Knyghthode so encrece,
'pat no thyng my labour sholde edifie,
ffor he fat art / wel can for the maisirie. 666
Beyonde, he preeued hath his worthynesse,
And among othre / Chirburgli to witnesse. 567
(82)
" This worthy Prynce lay before pat hold 568
Which was ful strong / at seege many a day,
And thens for to departe hath he nat wold.
But knyghtly thei"^ abood / vp-on his pray
Til he by force it wan / it is no nay. 572
Due henri, pat so worthy was and good,
ffolwith this Prince / as wel in deede as blood. 674
(83)
IF " Or he to Chirburgfi cam / in ioumeyynge,^ 575
Of Constantyn he wan the cloos and yle,
ffor which / laude and honur and by preysynge
Rewarden him / and qwyten him his whyle.
Thogh he beforn pat had a worthy style, 579
yit of noble renoun is pat encrees :
He is a famous Prince / doutelees ! 581
^ Chirburgh, in John Stowe's hand, in the tnaigin.
XXI. hogclbve's dialog, praisb of thb duke of glo'ster. 131
(84)
**ffor to reherce or teli in special
Euery act \a\, his swerd / in steel wroot there,
And many a place / elles I woot nat al ;
And thogh euery act come had to myn ere,
To yepresse^ hem / my spirit wolde han fere,
Lest I his thank* par channce mighte abregge
Thurgh vnkonnynge / if I he7?z sholde allegge.
(85)
" But this I seye / he callidf is Humfrey
Conueniently, as fat it seemeth me,
ffor this conceit is in myn herte al-wey,
Bataillous Mars / in his natiuitee
Vn-to fat name / of verray specialtee
Titled him / makynge him ther-by promesse
J?at strecche he sholde in-to hy worthynesse ;
(86)
" flfor humfrey / as vn-to myn intellect,
* Man, make I shal ' / in englissh is to seye ; ^
And fat byheeste / hath taken treewe etfect.
As the co??imune fame / can bywreye :
Who-so his worthy knyghthode / can weye
Duely in his conceites balaunce,
Ynow hath / wher-of his renoun enhaunce.
(87)
" To cronicle his actes / wei^ a good deede,
ffor they ensaumple mighte, and encorage
fful many a man / for to taken heede
How for to gouerne hem in the vsage
Of armes / it is a greet auauntage
582 ^ cannot relate all
his warlike deeds.
586
588
589 [leaf 21]
He is well named
* Humft-ey/
593
595
596
600
602
603
for that means
' I shall make a
man/
and Common
Fame says he
is one.
It would be a
good deed to
chronicle his
feats, to encourage
other men.
607
^ For * expresse ' ?
* Humfrey, quasi *homme feray* [in margin] ? in a 17th-
century hand. Other scribble : * John, Thomas . . John . . I
winsayn bene . . as . . so p ff H Hon . . Ar mo . . stoke . .
gingen . , "Wiylyam.*
K 2
«^/3^> (c/Yu.'iA
[leaf 21, back]
At the si^e
of Roaen,
Duke Humfrey
did knightly.
What can I say
to please him ?
132 HOCCLEVB's DIALOG. HOW CAN I PLKASE THB DDKK OF GliO'STER 1
A man before him / to haue a mirour,
Ther-in to see the path vn-to honour. 609
(88)
" lord / whan he cam to the seege of Roon 610
irro Chirburgh / whether fere or cowardyse,
So ny the walles / made him for to goon
Of the town / as he dide 1 I nat souffyse
To telle yow / in how knyghtly a wyse 614
He logged him thei^ / and how worthy ly
He baar him / what / he is al knyght soothly. 616
(89)
IT " Now, good freend / shoue at the cart, I yow preye ;
What thyng may I make vn-to his plesance? 618
Withonten your reed / noot I what to seye."
U * / no, pardee, Thomas / o. no, ascannce.'
IT " No, certein, freend / as now no cheuissance 621
Can I ; your conseil is to me holsum ;
As I truste in yow, mynystreth me sum." 623
(90)
II * Wei Thomas / trowest thow his hy noblesse 624
Nat rekke / what mateere fat it be
\>a\, thow shalt make of T H " no, freend, as I gesse.
So fat it be mateere of honestee."
IT * Thomas, and thanne I wole auyse me ; 628
ffor who-80 reed & conseil yeue shal.
May nat on heed / foorth renne ther-w^tA-al. 630
(91)
* And J)at^ so noble a Prince, namely, 631
So excellent / worthy and honurable,
Shal haue / needith good auys soothly,
Jjat it may be plesant and agreable
To his noblesse / it is nat couenable 635
To wryte to a prince so famous.
But it be good mateei* and vertuous. 637
1 What poem.
He cares only for
proper things.
Peaf 22]
Hoec/eve^s friend.
You must write
on a worthy
topic.
9<L^. ~D^. (9^, U.)
ZXI. HOOCLBVE's dialog. HB must think BEFORfi! HE WRITES. 133
(92)
* Thow woost wel / who shal an hous ediBe, SJfJiJ'Som^i SuidlT h^«
nsto
houM
Gooth nat ther-to withoute auisament, Zlxm^^ "^ ^'*^^"* *^'***'
If he be wys, for w^'t^ his mental ye
ffirst is it seen / pourposid / cast & ment, Jaim?*'*!??
How it shal wroght been / elles al is shent. 642
Certes, for the deffaute of good forsighte,
Mis-tyden thynges / fat wel tyde mighte. 644
(93)
* This may been vn-to thee / in thy makynge 645
A good mirour / thow wilt nat haaste, I trowe,
Vn-to thy penne / and ther-w^t/i wirke heedlynge, you mustn't
Or thow auysed be wel / and wel knowe 648 taking thought.
What thow shalt wryte / o, Thomas / many a thro we adviS. "*
Smertith the fool / for lak* of good auys ;
But no wight hath it smerted fat is wys ; 651
(94)
* ffor wel is he waar / or he wryte or speke, 652 [leaf 22, back]
What is to do or lene / Who by prudence
Eule him shal / no thinge shal out from him breke
Hastily ne of rakil negligence.'
IF " ffreend, bat is sooth / o / now your assistence 656 Tme, friend,
says Hoccleve,
And help / what T shal make, I now byseeche ; advise me.
In your wys conceit / serche yee & seeche." 658
(95)
IT He a long tyme in a studie stood, 659
And aftir fat, thus tolde he his entente :
«rmi /.11J xi-iT'i T Hoccleve'$ friend.
% * Thomas, sauf bettre auys, I nolde it good, Thomas, as ifs
Syn now the holy seson is of lente '
In which it sit euery man him repente 663
Of his oflfeiise / and of his wikkidnesse /
repent and con-
Be heuy of thy gilt / and the confesse, 665 fess your sUis,
r'^/ys^ (c/fciZK)
134 hocolsvb's dialog, how be can obt women's favour again.
and mak« amend*
for them.
You've often
blamed women;
have written a
quarter-sack
of worde against
them,
that tliey've
not forgiven or
forgotten.
Deaf 23]
Now write in
praise of them.
It wants craft
and art to please
women.
But you can do
it if
you'll confess
your guilt,
and please them.
You can't flght.
(96)
* And satisfaccion do thow for it. 666
Thow woost wel / on wommen, greet wyt^ & lak*
Ofte haast thow put / be waar / lest thow be qwit.
Thy wordes fiUe wolde a quarter sak,^
Which thow in whyt / depeynted haast w/t^ blat;
In hir repreef , mochil thyng haast thow write,
That they nat foryeue haue / ne foryite.
(97)
* Sumwhat now wryte in honowr & preysynge
Of hem / so maist thow do correccioun
Sumdel of thyn offense and mis-berynge.
Thow art cleene out of hii^ affeccioun ;
Now syn it is in thyn eleccioun
Whethir thee list / hir loue ageyn purchace,
Or stonde as thow doost / out of loue & grace /
(98)
* Bewar, rede I / cheese the bettre part.
Truste wel this / wommen been fell and wyse ;
Hem for to plese / lyth greet craft & art.
Wher no fyr maad is / may no smoke aryse ;
But thow haast ofte / if thow thee wel auyso,
Maad smoky l^rondes / and for al fat gilt,
yit maist thow stonde in grace / if \a\> thow wilt.
(99)
* By buxum herte & by submission
To hir graces / yildinge thee coupable /
Thow pardon maist haue, & remission
And do vn-to hem plesance greable.
To make partie / art thow nothyng able ;
Humble thy goost / be nat sturdy of herte ;
Bettre than thow art / han they maad to smerte.
672
673
677
679
680
684
686
687
691
693
^ wyUy blame ; not wUy the little brain that Hoccleve had.
' A sack that holds a quaiter (being a double sack), = a lot
of words. — T. Austin.
9A^. 1>^J'
hocoleve's dialog, praise of women 'll please the duke. 135
694
698
(100)
* The wyf of Bathe, take IJor auctrice
J)at wo;nmen han no ioie ne deynt^e
J)at men sholde vp-on hem putte any vice ;
I woot wel so / or lyk* to fat, seith shee.
By wordes writen / Thomas, yilde thee ;
Euene as thow hy scripture hew* haast oflfendid,
Kigfet so / let it be by wrytynge amendid.'
(101)
H " ffreend / thogfi I do so / what lust or pleisir 701
Sbal my lord haue in fat / noon / thynkith me."
IF * Yis, Thomas, yis / his lust and his desir
Is / as it wel sit / to his hy degree,
ffor his desport / & mirthe in honestee, 705
With ladyes / to haue daHance :
And this book* / wole he shewen hem par chance. 707
[leaf 2S, back]
Chaucer's Wife
of Bath says
women don't
like men to make
tiiem out vicious.
As you've offend-
ed em by writing,
700 now make
amends by it.
The Duke likee
daliance with
ladies. He'll
show em your
book.
(102)
* And syn he thy good lord is / he be may
ffor thee swich mene / fat the lightlyere
Shuln they foryeue thee / putte in assay
My conseil / let see / nat shal it thee dere ;
So wolde I doon / if in thy plyt I were.
Leye bond on thy breest / if thow wilt so do.
Or leue / I can no more seyn ther-to.
708
712
714
and get you their
forgiveness.
(103)
H * But thogfi to wowimen thow thyn herte bowe, 715
Axynge hir graces / with greet repentance
ffor thy giltes / thee wole I nat allowe
To take on thee swich rule and gouemance
As they thee rede wolde / for greuance 719
So greet / ther folwe mighte of it, par cas,
That thow repente it sholdest ay, Thomas. 721
[leaf 24]
But you mustn't
put yourself
under women's
rule.
't!il^O'i'^'))
136
HOCCLEVE S DIALOG. TAKE PATIENTLY WHATEVER WOMEN DO.
Eve beguiled
Adam, and the
serpent her.
Bat God said
Eve should break
the serpent's
head.
So let no husband
feel shame if his
wife brealc his
head.
[leaf 24, bade]
Hang up your
hatchet, and sit
down.
How do yon and
your wife get on ?
Hocefevg,
She wouldn't
liice me to tell
you.
Hocelw€*t ftriend.
If you want to
live in ease.
take patiently
all that women
say.
(104)
II ' Adam begyled was wM Eeues reed, JuJtS'JJ^^'i^^
And sikir so was shee by the Serpent, IST-X'^' **''"*
To whom god seide / ** this womman thyn heed
Breke shal / for thurgt thyn enticement
Shee hath y-broken my co?7imandement."
Now, syn wowman had of the feend swich might ;
To breke a raannes^ heed / it seemeth light.
(105)
' Ifor why, let noon housbonde / thynke it shame
Ne repreef vn-to him / ne vilenye,
Thogh his wyf do to him fat selue same.
Hir reson axith haue of men maistrie
Thogh holy writ witnesse and testifie ^ ^S"iSl wSS eris /
Men sholde of hem han dominacioun, ^^^^ ^omin^y^nnr ua
It is the reuers in probacioun. 735
726
728
729
732
(106)
736
739
* Hange vp his hachet / & sette him adoun ; ^
ffor wommen wole assente in no maneere
Vn-to fat poynt / ne fat conclusioim.
H Thomas / how is it twixt thee & thy feere.l
f " Wei, wel, quod I / what list yow thei'-of heere ?
My wyf mighte haue hokir & greet desdeyn
If I sholde in swich cas / pleye a soleyn." 742
(107)
H * Now Thomas / if thee list to lyue in ese, 743
Prolle aftir wommennes beneuolence.
Thogh it be dangerous / good is hem plese,
ffor hard is it / to renne in hir^ offense.
What so they seyn / take al in pacience. 747
Bettre art thow nat / than thy fadres before,
Thomas, han been / be right wel waar therfore.' 749
^ Why is a mau's head easier to break than a serpent's t
• Compare the Wtfe of Bath* 8 Prolog and Tale,
?^.1^^J- o.
>t>^
U.J
751
flOCCLBVE^S DIALOG. I NEVER REPROVED WOMEN IN MY * CUPID.' 137
(108)
H '* ffreend, hard it is / wommen to greeue, I grante ;
But what haue I agilt / for him fat dyde,
Nat haue I doon why / dar I me auante,
Out of wommennes graces slippe or slyde."
H * Yis, Thomas, yis / in thepistle of Cupyde
Thow haast of hem / so largeliche said,
That they been swart wrooth / & ful euele apaid.' 756 ""^^'^^'y®"-
754
In yonr
* Epistle of Oupid'
[in Stowe's hand]
you've abused
'em, and they're
(109)
H " ffreend / doutelees sumwhat ther is ther-in
\)ai sowneth but right smal to hir honour ;
But as to fat / now, for your fadir kyn,
Considereth / ther-of / was I noon Auctour ;
I nas in fat cas / but a reportour
Of folkes tales / as they seide / I wroot :
I nat affermed it on hem / god woot !
(110)
" Who so fat shal reherce a mannes sawe.
As fat he seith / moot he seyn & nat varie,^
ffor, and he do / he dooth ageyn the la we
Of trouthe / lie may tho wordes nat contrarie.
Who-so fat seith * I am hii* Aduersarie,
And dispreise hir condicions and port,
ffor fat I made of hem swich a report,' /
(111)
'* He mis-auysed is / and eek to blame.
Whan I it spak* / I spak conpleynyngly ;
I to hem thogfete no repreef ne shame.
What world is this / how vndirstande am T 1
Looke in the same book* / what stikith by 1
Who so lookith aright / ther'-in may see
J)at they me oghten haue in greet cheertee.
757 [leaf 25]
Hoeelwt.
But I didn't write
that myself.
7 1 I only reported
other foUca' tales.
763
764 Whoever reports
a man's sayings,
must write what
he said.
768 And if any one
says I run down
women because I
reported things
of 'em in my
'Cupid,'
770
771 he is to blame.
774
777
I didn't reprove
'em.
On the contrary,
Women ought to
hold me dear,
^ This is Chaucer's excuse for telling his naughty Tales.
Gl^^o (c/^:^:^)
138
XXI. HOCCLEYB'S dialog. I HEAK TO WIN WOMEN 8 LOVB.
(112)
Clear 25, tack]
or I don't know
what's what.
778
If you'd read it
yoa'd confeM
your mistake.
** And elles / woot I neuere what is what.
The book* concludith for hem / is no nay,
Vertuously / my good f reend / dooth it nat 1 "
% * Thomas, I noot / for neuere it yit I say.'
**No, freend?" % *no, Thomas* / % "Wei trowe I,
in fay ; 782
ffor had yee red it fully to the ende,
yee wolde seyn / it is nat as yee wende." 784
(113)
Hoceleve* 9 friend. ., -• / i t • t
•Well, Thomas, * Thomas / how SO it be / do as I seide :
ptease the women. Syn it displesith hem / amendes make.
If fat some of hem thee ther-of vpbreide,
Thow shalt be bisy ynow, I vndirtake,
Thy kut to keepe / now I thee bytake
To god / for I moot needes fro thee weende :
The love and thank* of wommen / god thee seende !
785
789
Ok>d send you
their love !
Now and then I
shall visit you
before your
book's done,
and see that you
don't write any-
thing to annoy
women.'
[leaf 26]
When my friend
was gone.
(114)
* Among, I thynke thee for to visyte
Or fat thy book* fully linisshid be,
fFor looth me were / thow sholdest aght wryte
Wherthurgh / thow mightest gete any maugree ;
And for fat cause / I wole it ouersee ;
And, Thomas / now a dieu & fare weel ;
Thow fynde me shalt / al so treewe as steel.'
(115)
Whan he was goon / I in myn herte dredde
Stonde out of wo7?imennes beneuolence ;
And to fulfille fat / fat he me redde,
792
796
798
799
I resoiv'd to work I shoop mc do my peyue and diligence
to win women's i . , ^ it
love. io Wynne hir loue by obedience.
Thogh I my wordes can nat wel portreye /
Lo, heer the fourme / how I hem obeye.
803
805
)4-fx^. S^A-aJ ' i^yuu*.
K
hocoleve's dialog. I'll English a tale to please the ladies. 139
(116)
U My ladyes afi / as wialy god me blesse,
Why fat yee meeued been / can I nat knowe ;
My gilt cam neuere yif to the ripnesse,
Al-thogti yee for your fo / me deeme & trowe ;
But I your f reend be / byte me the crowe !
I am al othir to yow / than yee weene ;
By my wrytynge / hath it, & shal be, scene.
(117)
But nathelees / I lowly me submitte
To your bontees / as fer as they ban place
In yow / vn-to me, wrecche, it may wel sitte
To axe pardoun / thog!l I nat tre^ace ;
Leuer is me / with pitous cheere & face,
And meek spirit, do so / than open werre
yee make me / & me putte atte werre.^
(118)
A tale eek* / which I in the Romayn deedis
Now late sy / in honur & plesance
Of yow, my ladyes / — as I moot needis.
Or take my way / for fere in-to ffrance, —
Thogh I nat shapen be / to prike or prance, —
Wole I translate / and fat shal pourge, I hope.
My gilt / as cleene / as keuerchiefs dooth sope.
^ At foot, in a later hand : * Hyharie * (?).
' Per me gabriell curtys [in a later hand at top].
806 Bat,ladiM,
810
812
813
817
819
tho' yoa think
me yoar foe, I'm
your friend, or
else may the
Crow bite me !
StiU, I'll beg your
pardon tho' I've
never harmd you.
820 [learse^backi]
And, to please
yoa, ladies.
824
I'll english yoa a
tale from the
826 Ch»ta Roma-
norum.
'^.CL/^bO (c/^^O^^tUrJ?. ^U)U l (J^^ua..^^
140
The Onta Eo-
manorum says
the Emperor
JeretUms
wedded the fair
daughter of the
King of Uongaiy,
a Tirtaons and
merdfol woman.
neaf27J
Jereslaus resolves
to go to the Holy
Land.
He tells hU wife.
XXII. THE BlIPBROB JERESLAUS's WIFE.
[For various readings from MS Beg, \1 "D %, seep. 243.]
xxii.
ffabula De qualiam Smperatrice i&omana.
(1)
In the Eomain actes Mrriten is thus : 1
Whitom an Emp^our in the Citee
Of Koome regned, clept lereslaus,
Which, his noble estat & hy dignitee
Gouemed? wysly ; & weddid had he 5
The dogfetir of the kyng of Vngarie,
A fair lady / to euery mannes ye. 7
(2)
And for \ai beautee in wowiman, allone 8
Wtt/iouten bontee, is nat commendable,
Shee was ther-to / a vertuous persone,
And spc(»ally pitous & merciable
In aH hir wirkes / which ful couenable 1 2
And pertinent is / vn-to wommanhede :
Mercy causith / good renofi fer to sprede.^ 14
(3)
Now in my tale foorth wole I proceede : 15
As \a\t this Emperour in his bed lay
Vp-on a nyght / a thogfet gan in him breede,
Vn-to the holy land / to take his way ;
And on the morwe / left^ lenger delay, 19
His wyf and his brothir / he made appeere
Before him / and hem seide in this maneere : 21
(4)
" My deere wyf* / myn hertes ioie and hele, 22
]>a\> thyng fat stablisshid in myn herte is,
I can nat hyde fro thee / ne concele,
Ne nat ne wole / and shortly it is this :
Vn-to the holy lond / I wole ywis ; 26
* b b b h h h . . . . Thomas kyngston hath Rede this gudly
boke [in a later hand at the bottom of the page]. ^ ? MS. lest
XXII. JERESLAUS'S WIFB. HE GOBS TO THE HOLT LAND.
141
And for thy / make I thee principally
Of al thempyre / me absent / ' lady/ 28
(5)
" Bytakynge and cowimittynge vn-to thee, 29
Of peple and land / the charge special ;
And vndir thee / my brothir heer siial be
Steward of it / to rule & goueme al
That to me and my peple, greet & smal, 33
Profitable is / by Conseil & assent
Algate of thee / and tbyn auysament.^ 35
(6)
** Al-thogfi thee thynke / this purpos sodeyn,
Yit be nat heuy / but in gree it take.
With goddes grace / my comynge ageyn
Shal nat be longe to / I, for thy sake,
Wole the shorter^ abood / there make. 40
Truste me weel / as blyue as fat I may,
Haaste I me wole / fro thennes away." 42
(7)
H To whom / with spirit of humilitee, 43
She seide / " syn it is your good plesance
To departe hens / & / go to fat Contree,
I take moot algates, in souffrance,
Your wil / and shal, with hertes obeissance, 47
As treewe as turtle / fat lakkith hir feere
In your absence / I shal be / my lord deere. 49
(8)
** fFul sore I am agast, & greetly dreede 50
pat neue?*e yee shuln thennes with your lyf*
Retome / almighty god yow saue & speede ! "
he [to] hii* yaf wordes confortatyf*.
And kiste hir' / and seide, " farewel, wyf* ! 54
Be nat abassht / ne nat dreedith, I preye ; "
And foorth he hastith him in his io2/rneye. 56
^ Later scribble at side ; ' h h ham for . . L L L . . L L/ &c.
He makes his
wife "Lady" of
the Empire,
with charge of the
folic and land;
and his brother
"Steward," to
rule all
by her advice.
36 [leaf 27, back]
He promises, for
her sake, to come
back home as soon
as he can.
His wife, the
Empress,
submits to his
will.
She will be as
true to him as the
turtle-dore to its
mate.
The Emperor
starts for the
Holy Land.
'>.^^^^o(c,^^^^
142 JBRESLAUS'S WIFE. HIS BROTHER TRIES TO CORRUPT HIS WIFE.
The EmpreM
fnievet grmitly
at bis going.
His brother gets
proud.
oppresses the
poor,
and robs the rich.
Worse still,
he plans and
strives
to carry out a*
greater crime ;
bnt a woman's No
stops him.
[leaf 28. back]
This Steward or
Seneschal tries to
malce the Empress
lie with him.
She reAises,
(9)
The sorwe of herte / and cheer* of heuynesse^ 57
Which this good lady at his departynge
Made / the book* nat can telle or expresse ;
Wherfore / of fat haue I no knowlechynge ;
Eet kepe I nat / tlie belle of sorwe out rynge, 61
Thogh fat I kneew wel euery circumstance
Of hii* wo / & hii* heuy contenance. 63
(10)
H But whan this Emperour was thus agoon, 64
His brothirs herte was so eleuat
And so prowd / fat by wight ne sette he noon ;
Him self forgat he / for his hy estat ;
The pore & simple folk / this potestat 68
Oppressid sore /and dide hem greet duresse ;
The riche / he robbid eek* of hir richesse. 70
(11)
And yit this wikkid man / this Seneschal, 71
Meeued was werse / and to fulfill it / thoghte ;
he dide his might / and his peyne total,
And alle weyes / serchid he & soghte,
And to brynge it aboute he faste wroghte ; 75
Al-thogh he faillid / at preef and assay,
He was knyt vp / wit/i a wom manly nay. 77
(12)
He day by day lay / on this Emperice^ 78
I'o make hir* vn-to him flesshly consente ;
H But shee answerde / " it wer* ouer greet vice
To me / if I ther-to myn herte bente.
Nay, brothir, nay / god woot, I neucre it mente, 82
^ thomas . . Thomas kaye the sonne of thomas kay . . Thom-
mas Eaye the sone of Thommas Kaye . . Thomas Kaye the sonne
. . 8 hns ' [in a later hand in the margin].
^ In a later hand, at top : * he it kouge vnto all men he thes
present "Wryting.*
ytHn>tA'
jA^ (^^
. K
)
and reproaches
him for his
treachery to hii
brother.
91 whoee wife she is.
92 She will be a
tme wife to her
husband.
JERESLAUS'S WIFE. SHE SENDS FOB MAGNATES OF THE EMPIRE. 143
Ne neuere slial / I truste in goddes grace ;
Yee goon wrong / yee mis-chosen han your place. 84
(13)
** In al your lyf / yee neuere, ne noon othir, 85
Shal make me consente to fat synne.
iFor shame, fy / fat yee, my lordes brothir.
And whom fat he right feithful trust hath Inne,
Sholde any swich tale / to me begynne, 89
Which wer* ageyn his / and your honestee,
And myn / fat am his wyf", wel knowen yee.
(14;
" A treewe wyf / I lyue wole & dye ;
his wole I be / to whom fat I am bownde
Whyle he lyueth and I / withouten lye ;
Trust ith wel / it noon othir shal be fownde."
But for al this / at eue?'y tyme & stownde
he stired hire / whan he fond hir soul,
Vn-to this deede vicious and foul.
(15)
And whan shee sy / shee mighte haue no reste, — 99
Nat wolde he stynte of his iniquitee, —
Shee aftir three / or foure / of the gretteste
Of al thempire sente / and thus spake shee :
H '* Sires / the cause / fat hath meeued me
ffor yow to seude / is this / as I shal seyn,
Of which / I sore encombred am / certeyn :
(16)
" yee woot wel / fat my lord the Emperour,
In his absence / hath nlaad me principal
Of thempire / and his brothir gouemour
And Steward vndir me / for to rule al.
With tliis addiciofi / fat he nat shal 110
Wirke / my Conseil and assent vnhad :
This was my lordes wil / and thus he bad ; 112
96 But still this bad
Steward urges her
to vice.
98
[leaf 29]
The Empress
sends for 8 or 4
Magnates,
1 03 and tells them
105
106 that the Emperor
made her Chief
of the Empire,
and his brother
Steward, to rule
by her advioe.
^fj;^^(^/V,:x)
144 jbreslaub's wife, shb has hbb brother-in-law imprisoned.
Bat tlie Steward
has oppraat and
robd,
r
and tried to do
worse to her.
The Magnates
moat imprison
[leaf 29, bark]
and firtter him.
She will stand by
them.
So the Magnates
pat the Steward
in prison and in
fetters.
When he hears
the Emperor is
coming home,
(17)
113
117
119
120
" And nathelees / the poore he hath oppressid,
And robbid ryche folk' / yee woot, I trowe ;
And werse thyng / which shal nat been expressid
As now / he wolde han doon / my self it knowe ;
Wberfore / vp-on the feith / which fat ye owe
To my lord / and on his part, I yow charge
Eiiprisone him / let him nat goon at large ; ^
(18)
ffettreth him faste ^* / and they answerden thus :
U " Ma dame / he hath doon many a wikkid deede
Syn our lord wente / it wel knowe is to vs.
To your commandement / as we moot neede /
"We wole obeie / but withoute dreede 124
yee muste in this / warrante vs and alio we.
Lest our lord / whan he comth / vs disallowe.** 1 26
(19)
U "What, Sires," quod shee / " doutith yow right noght;
ffor if my lord kneew / as mochil as I, 128
That he hath doon / sholde be deeve boght.
pat I yow charge / wole I stands by."
They made anoon areest on his body, 131
And in-to prison / they him threew & caste.
And fettred him in yren bondes faste, 133
(20)
Whei* he abood / til fat word comen was, 134
How fat the Emperour was hoom comynge.
Thanne he thus thoghte / "how shal I doon / alias,
Now knowe shal my lord, by enquerynge.
The verray cause of myn enprisonynge, 138
* Later, at foot : ti —
1 —
8
10
- 9
3
2
42
— d
2
— 4
4
10
10
[1 crost thro' for 2] 2
S* to to Summa totalis
84
100
pi^. w^ C%^
JBRBSLAUS'S WIFB. HER BROTHER-IN-LAW BBQS HBR FOROIVBNBSS. 145
Wherthurgfe, his grace / I vttirly shal leese,
Or per cas / my lyf / I ne shal nat cheese ;
(21)
** In feith if I may / it shal nat be so."
A messager / as blyue ordeyned he,
And made him / to the Emperice go,
And byseeche hii^ / of hir hy[e] bontee,
Syn shee had ay been of hir grace free,
Jjat shee so mochil grace / wolde him do,
As come / and speke a word wtt/d him or two.
(22)
U Vn-to the dore / of his prison / shee cam ;
Withouten danger / shee ther-to obeide :
** What is your wil," (]uod shee / "lo, heei^ I am.*'
He lookid pitously // and meekly preide,^
** gracious lady / reewe on me," he seide ;
" If fat my lord me fynde heei"^ in prison.
My deeth wole it been, & confusion.
(23)
** My gentil lady / what shal yow profyte
To do me of a mescheuous deeth sterue ?
If fat I lyue may / wole I me qwyte
Treewely to yow / and your thank disserue.
What yow list me cojwmande / I wole obsenie,
And do as humblely as any man
]>ai in this world lyueth / do may or can."
(24)
And shee anoon right, meeued of pitee,
Seide / **if [fat] I wiste fat of thy folie
Thow stynte woldest, & amende thee
Hens-foorth / and thee vn-to vertu applie,
My grace wolde I nat to thee denye."
He seide and swoor / al fat he cowde swere,
Amende he wolde / and wel aftir him here.
^ Later, at side : * hyghte . . Thomas . . bee.'
HOOOLEVB, M. P. — II.
140
141
145
147
148
[leaf 80]
he sends to the
Empress,
and begt her
to come and speak
to him.
She comes.
152 He prays her
to pity him.
154
155 What good 'U hit
death do her P
If she'll spare
him, he'll repay
her and deserve
^ .Q her mercy.
161
162 [leaf 80, bade]
She says that if
she can be sore
he'll amend,
166 she'll pardon Itim.
He swears he wilt
168
?4/^3^> (c/^^^)
146 XXII. JERBSLAUS'S WIFE. 8HK FREES HER FAL8E BROTHER-IN-LAW.
(25)
169
Alaa, tbe tniaU
bim.
H noble lady / symple and Innocent,
Trustjnge vp-on his ooth and his promesse,
flful wo is me / for thy wo consequent I
Often happith / wommannes tendrenesse
Toraeth hii* vn-to harm / and to duresse :
This Emperice fond it so by preef,
Whom \a\, forsworn man / greet harm dide, & gfeef. 1 75
173
(26)
This man shee took* out of the prison hous.
And made him bathid been, and fresshly shaue,
And dide him clothe in clothes precious.
And a fressh Courser / eek* 8hee made him haue,
And seide, " now, brothir / so god yow saue !
and bitis him ride Takith your hors / and ryde foorth witA me
with her to meet 11., i t f 1 > 1 y ' \ ii
the Emperor. Toward my lord / and foorth Wit/< hir rood he.
■eta bim free.
dotbee him,
pats him on a
•teed.
176
180
182
(27)
[leaf SI]
As tliey ride,
a hart starts,
and every man
rushes after it.
183
The Empress is
left alone with
the steward.
And as they riden / right in the hy way^
Ny a £foreste / an hert before hem ran :
Ther nas but " ryde on, ryde / and hay, doggo, hay ! "
£ue7'y man dooth his peyne / in what he can.
The hert to sue / ther lefte no man 187
W/t/i this good lady / sauf this wikkid wight,
This Steward / which brak* al fat he had hight 189
(This liappend
long ago.)
(28)
U Par auenture / men wole ban meruaiH,
That damoisele / vfiHi hii' had shee noon :
No force of fat / the book* withouten faili
Makith no mynde / as mochil as of oon ;
This chauTice shoop / many a yeer agoon ;
That tyme par cas / was no swich array
As fat in sundry Contrees is this day.
190
194
196
^ Later, at top : ' within . . from eve dep.
9i^.
(d.
J>Ul. -
k)
JBRESLAUS'S WIFE. SHE SHUNS HEK BROTHER-IN-LaVb PROPOSALS. 147
(29)
Whan this knyght sy / ther was noon but they two, 197
To thempe^'ice / he seide in this maneere :
** It is ago fern / syn I spak* yow to
Of loue / come on now, my lady deere,
With me / in-to this priuee foreste heere, 201
That y of yow / may haue my talent !
Kow shal be doon / fat I longe haue ment." 203
He Mkt ber
to oome into the
forest and yield
to liie desire.
(30)
H ** What, fool / took I thee nat out of prison),
No lenger* hens / than yistirday," quod shee.
In trust and hope / of thy correccioii),
As thow swoor / and behightest vn-to me ;
And now to thy folie and nycetee
Kotoj^rne woldest thow / nay, doutelees
It shal nat be / stynte and holde thy pees !
(31)
" Ther neuero shal man / do with me fat deede,
Sauf my lord themperour / which fat of right
Licenced is thor-to / o, god forbeede,
pat by myn honesteo / setto I so light !
Peyne thee nat ther-to / for in thy might
Shal it nat be / thy wil for to pe^'fowrme ;
By no way wole I me ther-to confowrme."
(32)
204 DeafSl.l>acl(]
Stie reproacties
him.
208
210 bids him hold
Ills tongae.
211
215
217 and absolutely
refuses him.
218
And he answorde / and spak* vnreuerently :
" But if fat thow / consente wilt to me
In this foreste / as swythe right wole y
Hange thee by thyn heer / vp-on a tree,
Wher no wight shal thee fynde / and so," quod he, 222
Of wikkid deeth / thow sterue shalt & die ;
Truste on noon help at al, ne remedie." 224
L 2
He declares that
if she won't give
herself to him,
he'll hang her on
a tree by her hair.
to stanre and die.
^li!l!if (^'"^^O
148 JBRBSLAUS'S WIFB. SHK 18 STRIPT AND HANOD UP BT HBB HAIB.
Sh«iconi»hls
UutmU.
He shall never
liave her alive.
The Steward
strips the Empreea
to her smock,
hangs her on an
oak by her liair.
and rides off,
the tyrant.
Then he lies to
his men.
and says that
the Rmpress was
carried off by
f(Mwe from him.
[leaf 82. back]
Liar, stinking
adulterer.
traitor.
(33)
U '' By thy manaces / sette I nat a myte," 225
Shee seide / '^ of hem haue I no dreede at al.
Thogh thow me thretne / myn heed of to smyte,
And do me what tonnent thow canst / I ahal
Thee werne ay \cX / this for answei* final 229
Take if thee list / for, to )>at poynt me dryue,
Thow neuere shalt / whyles I am on lyiie* 231
(34)
** Thow woost wel / in effect / thus seide I eer." 232
He strypid hii-* anoon / left al delay,
Vn-to hir smok / and heng hir* by hii* heer
Vp-on an ook* / and by hir*, hir palfray
He stonde leet / and foorth on deuel way 236
Eood this tirant / this roan malicious.
This cruel-herted man enuenymous, 238
(35)
And whan he had his felawsliipe atake, 239
He bleew and hlustred / and made heuy cheere ;
And a strong lesyng* / he gan to hem make ;
He seide, "alias / \ai I nere on my beere,
So wo is me / for J)at my lordes feere, 243
My lady, is me reft / by force of men."
God yeue him sorwe // and att swiche [Amen] ! 245
(36)
H false lyei^ / o thow cofre and cheste^ 246
Of vnclennesse / o stynkynge Aduoutour
In wil, seye I / and willy to inceste ;
false man to god / and thow traitour
To thy lord and brothir, the Emperour ; 250
enemy to wyfly chastitee,
And in thy wirkes ful of crueltee ; 252
* Later, at top : * false Iyer.*
ZSItl. JKBEBLAUS'S VIFK. SHE IS SEEN IN THE OAK BY AN BAKL. 149
(37)
IF cursid feendly wrecche / why hast thow
Deceyued & betrayed Innocence 1
What wilt thow seye / & how wilt thow looke, how,
Whan thow comest / to thy Lordes presence,
And art opposid by his excellence, 257
How fat it with his lady hath betid[de] 1
I am seur / Jfat the trouthe shal been [hidde]. 259
(38)
ffor as wel as fat to thy conpaignie 260
Thow lyedist / whan thow hem ouertook* /
As lowde wilt thow / vn-to thy lord lye,
I woot wel / and wiHi bolde face and look*.
Kathelees / of this tretith nat the book* ; 264
Wh erf ore to my tale wole I go.
Of this lady / and foorth teH of hir wo. 266
.(39)
IF Whan fat shee so had hanged dayes three,^ 267
By fat foreste / rood ther on huntynge
An Erl / pat was of a strange contree ;
Befom whos howndes was a fox rennynge,
And they aftir it blyue folewynge ; 271
And as fat they ran / they hadden a sent
Of the lady / and thidir be they went ;
253 devUith wretch I
(40)
273
274
And there as shee heeng / they stood at a bay.
This Erl, of fat meruaillynge him greetly,
Thidir him hyeth / in al fat he may ;
And whan he hire / there hangynge sy.
He seide / " womman / what art thow, & why 278
Hangest thow in this wyse vp-on the treel"
IF " A strange womman / sire., am I " / qtu)d shee, 280
^ Ijater, at top : ' Wh . . Beniamen . . . benefold . . Beniamin
. . Benee e e e e.' At side: 'Thomas, I haue my hertili co-
mendyd vnto you of du . . . '
yoa'U lie to your
Lord.
[leaf 88]
An Earl, while
hunting.
sees the En^presi
hanging on the
oak.
^_a/^Zo
(cy¥:i:i)
150 ZXII. JERESLAUS'S WIFE IS GOVERNESS TO THE EARL'S DAUGHTER.
(41)
" Of fer[re] parties / how in-to this place 281
She won't tell him I cam / god woot " / shee wolde hy no way
Doskeuere wliat shee was / ne what fallace
Was doon to hire / cloos she kepte hire ay,
And tolde nat o word of hire affray. 285
Than axed hire the Erl / " whos hors is this
j)at hy thee standith % " // quod shee, " myn it is ; "
[leaf 8S, back]
The Earl pitiea
her.
and ofbre to free
her
(42)
Wherby the Erl anoon right vndirstood
J5at it noon othir wyse mighte he.
But shoe sum gentil womnian was of blood;
And in his herto / routhe of hire had he,
And seide to hire / " if it lyke thee,
Vn-to my wil / thee confourme and enclyne /
Deliure wole I thee / out of thy pyne.
288
292
294
if she'll be his
daughter's
governess.
(43)
" Lo, this I mecne / this is myn entente ;
A yong doghtir / haue I in soothfastnesse.
Of which I wolde / if fat thee list assento,
Thow tooke on thee to be gouerneresse.
And teche hire / as longith to a Maistresse
f>ai Lordes children han in gouernaitt ;
And wel wole I thee qwyte thy trauaitt ;
295
299
301
(44)
*'Myn entente is fat / and othir right noon."
H " Sire,'* quod shee / gladly wole I obeye
To yow in fat " / and shee was take anoon
Doun fro the tree / & shortly for to seye,
goes to the Earl's With him to his Castel / shee rood hir weye ;
and t^kes charge And of the chyld / shee tooke the gouemance,
Which tomed hire aftir to greet nusance.
She agrees,
is taken down.
302
306
308
/4^trr>CA.
XXII. JERBBLAUS'S WIFE. A REJECTED LOVER PLOTS AGAINST HER. 151
[leaf 34]
She sleeps with
the child in the
Earl's room.
The Earl's
Steward wants to
lie with her.
(45)
Shee wit/t this yong cbyld in the Chambre lay^ 309
Eu^'y nyght / wher lay therl and the Contesse,
Betwixt whos beddes brente a lampe alway ;
And wel beloued / for hire by goodnesse,
Of euery wight was / bothe more and lesse, 313
This Emperice / til vp-on a nyght,
Giltlees, hir good loos / refte a wikkid wight. 315
(46)
U Ther was a Sty ward / in this Erles bous, 316
)5at to hire ofte had spoke of flesshly loue ;
To whom seide ay this lady gracious,
** Maad bane I an avow to god aboue,
Loueres alle / fro myn herte shoue, 320
Sauf oonly him / whom, of goddes precept,
To Loue / I holde am / and fat shal be kept. 322
(47)
" I truste in god / myn herte shal nat change 323 she refuses him.
ffro jjat, whil my lyf shal soioume in me."
H ** / wilt thow so / wilt thow make it so strange ;
Wilt thow noon othir wyse do," qwod he.
IF " Jjat I seid haue / I wole holde," qworf shee. 327
And whan he sy / noon othir remedie,
He wrootbly wente / out of hir conpaignie. 329 He resolves to be
(48)
And fro thens foorth / conpassid in his wit,^
How to be venged / vp-on hire, & wroken.
IF And on a nyght / vnhappyly shoop it.
Left was the Erles Chambre dore vnstoken ;
To which he com / and fond it was nat loken,
330 [leaf 34, back]
revenged on her.
334
^ Later scribble at top and side : ' o . . of . . of the saide saide
. . of the saide . . . 4,000,000,000 . . 278231459 ... as .. of the
Of . . Sy . . 400,000,000 . . 29,000,000.'
' Later letters often scribbled in margins : D, h, y, a w n h
n, and ' myn . . . And f or . . . where . . hyl.'
>^/^3>d (c/y(:i:^'\
152 XZII. JBRESLAUS'S WIPE. SHE IS WRONGLY AOCUSBD OF MURDER.
The SUward
■teals into her
bedroom.
eute the throat of
the Earl's child.
and put* the
bloody knife into
the sleeping
Empress's hand.
[leaf 85]
The Countess
sees the knife,
wakes the Earl,
who thinks the
Empress guilty,
Later, at top
And theeflj in staal / this wikkid persone,
Where as he fond hem slepjmge euerychone.
(49)
And he espyde / by the lampes light,
The bed / where as Jxit lay the Emperice
With therles doghtir / and as blyue right
This feendly man his purposid malice
Thoghte for to fulfill and accomplice ;
And so he dide / a long knyf he out drow,
And ther-with-al / the mayden chyld he slow.
(50)
Hir throte with J)at knyf / on two he kutte ;
And as this Emperice / lay slepynge,
In-to hire hand / this bloody knyf he putte,
ffor men sholde haue noon othir demynge,
But shee had gilty been / of this muidrynge.
And whan ))at he / had wroght this cursidnesse,
•Anoon out of the Chambre / he gan him dresse.
(51)
IF The Contesse aftir / of hir sleep awakid,^
To themperices bed gan caste hir look*,
And sy the bloody knyf in hire bond nakid.
And for the fere / shee tremblid and qwook*
And rogged on hir lord / and him awook*,
Preyynge him / to the bed he looke wolde,
And there a me?Tiaillou8 thyng / seen he sholde.
(52)
IF Whan he was wel awakid of his sleep,
He lookid ther-to / as shee him besoghte,
And it byheeld / and of it took* good keep,
And of fat meschief / him sore forthoghte
Demynge fat this cursid deede wroghte
This Emperice / as fat it was ful lyk*
To been / and vp he threew an heuy syk*,
and in margin : ' The Contesse . . dan (f ) . . . H . . pr . .
336
337
341
343
344
348
350
351
355
357
358
362
364
(^X>.c^. u.^
JBRBSI/AUS'S WIFE. HBR I>BATH DEHANDBD BT ^HE tXnJNTHaS. 158
(53)
And hire awook* / and thus to hire he cryde, 365
" Womman ! what is \a\> in thyn hand I see ?
What hast thow doon, womwianl for him bat dyde, and wjeases her
ofthemard«r.
What wikkid spirit / hath trauaillid thee \ "
And as soone / as \a\t adawid was shee, 369
The knyf fil out of hire hond in the bed[de],
And shee hyheeld the clothes al hybled[de] / 371
(54)
And the chyld deed \ " Alias ! " shee cryde, "alias ! ^ [leaf 86, b^k]
How may this be / god woot al / I noot how ; 373
I am nat pryuee to this heuy cas ; she vown she
didn't Irilllhe
The gilt is nat myn / I the chyld nat slow." cwid.
To which spak* the contesse / " what seist thowl 376
Excuse the nat / thow inaist nat seyn nay ;
The knyf al bloody / in thyn hand I say." 3T8
(55)
And thus / vn-to hir lord / shee cryde anoon : 379
" Slee this cursid feend / bat our chyld hath slayn ! The Countew
' ^ *' '' demands that the
Lat hire no lengere [now] on lyue goon ! Empiwe shaii
be slain.
Jjat y neuere had hire seen / wolde I lul fayn,
But or shee hear cam / fat shee had be flajm ! 383
ffor so greet wo / cam neuere to myn herte :
Slee hire as blyuo / lat nat hire asterte ! *' 385
(56)
Al-thogh fat shee were in this cas vengeable, 386
ffor causes two / me thynkith it smal vice, (And surely
Shee was in fat in partie excusable : justified her
IT Oon is / shee wende / fat the Emperice
Hire chyld had slayn of purposid malice ; 390
And so it seemed / as by liklyhede,
Al be it / fat nat were it so in dede. 392
^ Scribbles of letters at top and in margin : ' H . . Hn . . f . .
the loh, H H, y y y y y y, h h h h h, h h, h h, non ny non,
h h, 8.'
in this.
^.fj^ l^/Va^
154 XXII. JERBSLAUS'S WIFE IS TURND OUT OF THE EABL's CASTLE.
[IeafS6]
No love i» to
great M a
motber'a for her
child;
and for her hus-
band, we married
men may aay.)
The Earl says
hell not kill the
EmpreM.
He set her free,
and in return
she's kild liis
daughter.
[leaf 8«, back]
She most go.
or else be slain.
The Empreti
speaks no word.
(57)
pat othir cause / as woot eu^j man : 393
In [al] the world / so loujnge tendrenesse
Is noon / as is the lone of a womman
To hir chyld namely / & as I gesse,
To hire housbonde also / where-of / witnesse 397
We weddid men may here / if fat vs lyke,
And so byhoueth / a thank* vs to pyke. 399
(58)
IT Now fcorth / how the erl to themperice hiw hadde,
And how pat he gouemed fat mateere, 401
Herkneth / with heuy cheere & wordes sadde,
To hire he spak* / and seide in this maneere : 403
" WomTwan / wiHi my swerd / slee wolde I thee heere,
Sauf for awe of god / at whos reuerence
pat deede wole I putte in abstinence. 406
(59)
" Thow haue shalt for me noon harm at al ; 407
But who-so trustith on the curtesie
Of thee / ful soone he deceyued be shaL
Whan pat thow were / on a tree hangid bye,
Where as thow likly haddest been to dye, 411
Thow woost wel / ther-from I deliured thee,
And with my Doghtres deeth / thow qwit hast me ! 413
(60)
" Vnkynde womman / walke on foorth thy way ; 414
Hye thee hens / and neuere see my face ;
ffor if fat I / heere-aftir thee see may, —
Outhir in this / or eny otbir place
Of my lordshipe / — thow noon othir grace 418
Shalt ban / but die a deeth ful villenous,
Thow wikkid womman, fals and traiterous ! 420
(61)
This Innocent lady / no word ageyn 421
Spak* / for shee spoken had ynow befom,
(Si^. M.)
xxn. jerbblaus'b wife leaves the castle, and saves a thief. 155
Excusynge hire / but, al was in veyn ; — her flm excuses
were in vain—
ffor whan fat shee had al y-seyd and sworn,
Shee with the Erl and his wyf / was doun born ; 425
And sikirly / where as fat no credence
May been had / wysdam conseillith silence. 427
(62)
U What leeue fat shee took* / ne woot I nat, 428
Or fat shee fro fat place was y-went ; —
The booke maketh no mencion of that ; —
But hire palfray / shee hire self hath hent, but mounts her
palfrey,
And SO foorth roode toward the orient. 432 and rides oflr.
Emperice / our lord god gye thee,
flfor yit thee folwith more aduersitee.^ 434
(63)
As shee rood, on hir right hand / shee espyde 435 Deaf 87]
A gal we tree / to which men a theef ledde, she sees a thief
^ ' led to the gallows.
Hanged to been / and to hire horses syde
The spore gooth / shee faste hire thidir spedde,
ffor verray routhe hir thoghte hire herte bledde, 439
And to the Officers / meekly shee preide
In this wyse / and right thus shee to hem seide : 441
(64)
" Sires, if yow list / this mannes lyf saue 442
1 reedy am / to yeue yow good meede."
IF " We wole wel," quod they / " what shul we haue 1
What lykith yow / for his lyf vs to beede ]
Paieth therfore wel / and yee shul speede." 446
They of the paiement / accordid were ; guards " ^
Shee paide / and this man / foorth shee took* wtt^ here, wuh^her? ™
^ In margin, in a later hand : At foot : s d.
Of att6 thinges that I can fynde, 20
Hope dothe help the carefuli mynd<, quod Carter. 10 — 2
9 — 4
89 6
^ ^J^ZO (c/^'2,'2.J
156 xxn. jBRBBiiAUs's wint and ims bbsoded thibf oo ^o a oitt.
(66)
" Be to me treewe " / now i\uod shee, " my frcend, 449
Syn 1x0 thy death / deliured haue y thee."
IF " Yis, certes, lady / elles to the feend,
Body and soule bytake y," seide he ;
" Noon othir wolde I / for al cristientee, 453
Been vn-to yow " / and foorth shee rood hir way,
Tlie reflcned Thief
promises to sen'e
the Empress
faithftiUy.
[leaf S7, back]
She sends him
to find an Inn
in a City,
and then Uvea
there.
She is courted
in vain by many
loyers.
And on his foot / this man hire folwith ay,^
(66)
Til \at they/drow / vn-to a Citee ny,^
Whidir befom / shee bad him for to go
And take hire In / so fat shee honestly
Mighte Inned been / and he dide right so,
And taried nat his lady longe fro,
But ageyn hire / as blyue right this man.
To brynge hire thidir / faste wente & ran.
(67)
Shee cam in-to hir In / and abood there
Dayes dyuerse / for hire ese and reste ,;
And in the Citee / fame wydewhere
Sprang / how a lady / the womanlyeate
Of cheere / port / shap / and eek* the faireste
That any wight beholde mighte or see,
Was come / and Inned hire in the Citee.
(68)
Many a lusty man / in loues art
Expert and so til / drow hem to hire In,
Weenynge han geten fat / of which no part
^ At foot, later :
li s d
1 — 10 — 2
9 — 4
19
6
455
456
460
462
463
467
469
470
St^mma totalis 39* 6d
In margin, in a later hand :
Thys ys lohn Hanook ys boke, ho so euer saye naye,
the deuyll of hell here Thomas Carter awaye !
Know er thow knyt, and then thow mayst slake ; (see p. 124)
Iflf thow knyt [MS, kynt] er thow know, then hyt ya to late.
>J^,m4 (^^:::^)
[leaf 88]
She it pleasant
with her lovers.
481 but nothing more.
How silly it Is
of men to say
tliat woman can't
be constant.
XQ]. JBRKLAUS'S Wim IKQUIRBS WHAT GOODS ABB VS M SHIP. 157
They gete kowde / for noon art ne gyn.
To thententes corrupt / Jwtt they were In, 474
Shee wolde for no thyng / bowe & enclyne ;
Hire hertes Castel / kowde they nat myne. 476
(69)
As fer as the boundes of honestee^ 477
Bequoren / shee made hem disport and cheere ;
But passynge it / for al hir sotiltee,
ifor profre of meede / ne for faire preyeere,
Shee change nolde hir vertuous maneere ;
The lessons fat they in Ouyde had red,
Halp hem right noght / they wenten thens vnsped. 483
(70)
IF 0. yee fat seyn / womnien be variant, 484
And can nat sad been / if they been assaillid f
Yee been ful vnkonnynge and ignorant,
And of the soothe / foule yee han faiUid ;
Constance is vn-to wom?nanhode entaillid ; 488
Out of fat fee / they nat be dryue may ;
Swich hir nature is / thogh sum men seyn nay, 490
(71)
They stidefast been / as fer as y woot, 491
But it be / wher they take han a purpos
pat naght is / which, be it neuere so hoot.
They change / liest it hurte mighte hir loos,
And keepen it secree / couert & cloos, 495
Vnexecut / thogh of hem nat a fewe
The reuers doon / what / the feend is a shrewe. 497
(72)
Let al this passe / ther cam to the port
Of this Citee / a ship with marchandyse
Charged / where-of hir man made report
To his lady / shee bad him in al wyse
Go tliidir, and see / and him wel auyse 502
^ At top, later : A nunni a A a nunni A nuuui k k k (f).
Tliey only change
a purpose wlien
it might hurt
their reputation.
498 [leaf 88, back]
A merchant-ship
comes.
She sends to
know
^^/-/Stf (c/^x^)
158 XXn. JERESLAUS'S WIFE ASKS THE 8HIPMAN TO SHOW HIS GOODS.
what's on board
of it.
H«r man (tha
ThieQ finds rich
BtuflTty
and talces the
Shipman
[IeafS9]
to the Empress.
She asl(s liim to
bring his cloths
to her.
He agrees,
but tempts her
thief'servant.
What thyng ther-in was / & word hoom hire brynge,
504
505
509
511
512
Withoute any delay or taryynge.
{12)
He thidir wente / & clothes precious,
Amonges othir thynges / there he fond ;
iful ryche was the stuf, and plenteuous,
Of the ship / and the maistir, by the bond
he took / and seide / " ga we to the lond,
[Vn]To my ladyes In / shee wolde bye,
If J)at yow list / sum of your marchandie."
(74)
IF " I wole gladly " / seide the Shipman j
And to the ladyes In / they bothe two
Goon / but before dressith him hir man,
And reported hire / as him oghte do,
What ho had in the ship seen / and ther-to.
That the Shipman was comen / he hir tolde,
Axynge hire / if shee wtt^ him speke wolde.
(75)
IF *' Yis,'* c]^d shee / " let him in come, I the preye."
He entred / and vn-to him thus spak shee : 520
IF '* Sire / yee ban in your ship heere, y seye,
Dyuerse precious clothes / and if yee
Wolden some of hem brynge hidir to me.
As fat we mighte accorde, wolde y paye
In honde / and nat your paiement delaya"
(76)
IF " Ma dame, I graute," he seide / and took* his leeue ;
And with him / hir seruant to the ship wente, 527
To whom / the shipman by the way gan meeue :
IF " ffreend, I am set / on a certein entente,
Vn-to the whiche / if fat thow wilt assente, 530
And do thy deuer / and my Conseil hyde,
That thow me kneew / thow blisse shalt the tyde. .532
516
518
523
525
9ln^. WS riL^
u)
XXII. JERESLAUS'S WIFE. HER THIEF-SERVANT WILL BETRAY HER. 159
(77)
" O, may I truste / may I truste in thee 1
Tliow helpe me maist / and no wigfet but thow.
If thow wilt so / in this necessitee,
Gold and siluer wole I thee yeue ynow."
IF " Yis/' Q^od this seruant, ** that I make avow
To god / if Jjat it in my power lye,
Myn help to thee / ne wole y nat denye.
533
537 Her thIef-Mrvant
agrees to take the
Shipman's bribe,
539
(78)
'* If thow heer^aftir / fynde fat I gabbe,
Of my promesse / thanne dokke me ;
I neuere was yit / of my tonge a labbe ;
J5at thyng / jjat m.e told is in priuetee,
Keepe I can wel / be in noon aweertee,
But anoon to me telle out al thy gole,
ffor tree we and trusty / be to thee y wole."
(79)
IT " Grant mercy," seide the Shipman ; " I- wis,
Kow feele I confort / now dar y bywreye
To thee myn hertes secree / which is this :
Swich excellence of beautee is, y seye,
In thy lady /fat but if thow purueye
ffor me / fat y hir loue may obteene,
flful shorte shuln my dayes been / y weene."
540 aeafS9,back]
544
546 ftnd vows to be
true to him.
547
Tlie Shipman
says he must
551 get hold of the
Empress.
553
(80)
H Qt^d this se^niant / ** looke how y may profyte
In this, let see / and me sette in the way
How y shal do / and so shal y me qwyte,
J5at y thy thank / disserue shal for ay ;
Al shal be doon right to thyn owne pay \
Telle on / how wilt thow fat I me goueme."
The Shipman seide / ** and fat I wole as yerne :
554 Her servant
558 Pi^mises to help
him.
560
-i:^ (''^^-^J
160 ZXn. JBRBBLAUS'S WIFE.. THB SHIPMAN's PLOT TV) ENTRAP BBR.
[leaf 40]
The Mrvant ia
to uy that the
Empreas miiat
coma to the ahip
to Me the dotht.
(81)
561
IF " On my behalue / to thy lady weende,
And to hire seye / \at in no maneere,
Clothes out of my ship may I hire seende ;
If hir good lust be, in my ship appeere,
Shee shal seen what hh* list / wtt^ ful good cheere ; 565
But out of my ship / wole y nothyng selle :
Eight euene thus / vn-to hir seye and telle ; 567
He most bring
her when the
wind's fair for
leaving port.
(82)
" But of o thyng / thow must thee wel auyse,
Good heede ther-of take / and nat ne faiH, —
Be thow wel waar / in al maneere wyse
\>al the wynd thanne / be good, hens to saitt ;
Al fat thow doost elles / may nat auaitt ;
ffor lede hire hoom / wole y to my contree :
Lo, this is al / \aX y desire of thee."
— 568
572
574
(83)
iliil sooth is seid / the fals and coueitous 575
Been soone accordid / alias ! this onhede
Synful shal be / wikkid and treecherous.
O / Emperice / god the gye and lede !
Thow haast, or this, had trouble greet & drede, 579
And yit a sharp storm is vn-to thee shape ;
But, thankid be god / al thow shalt eschape. 581
[leaf 40, back]
The man tweart
he'll do thU.
(84
IF Now to purpos / than seide this s^*uant 582
To the Shipman / " come of, yeue me meede,
ffor heere y swere / and make couenaunt,
This shal be doon / haue there-of no dreede."
He had[de], y not what / the deuel him speede 586
ffor his labour / to be doon in this caas ;
And to his lady / dressith he his paas. 588
(^^, k.)
XXII. JBRSSLAUS'S WIPS. 8HB IS TAEBK ABOARD TAB SHIP. 161
(85)
He tolde hire / how the Shipman wolde nagfit 589 Her thief-ienrant
, tells her
Dehure clothes / out of his vessel ;
But if it lykid hire / to hye[n] aght /
Thidir shee iDuste come / and he f ul wel >be must go to
the ship to buy
With hire wolde do / shee kneew no del - 593 cloths.
Of the treson / purposid twixt hem two,
And seide / " in goddes name / it shal he do ; 595
(86) ■
** I reedy am to go / whan fat y shal, 596 she agrees.
Syn J)at thow seist / it may noon othir be,
But outhir moot y goon / or leuen al.
Let vs go thidir as swythe," quod shee.
IT " A / nay, madame / it may nat be " / seide he, 600
** Swich occupacioi^n hath he this day.
That he vn-to yow / nat entende may. 602
(87)
** Ma dame / vs muste abyden his leisir ; 603 [leaf 41]
There-on I wole awayte bysyly ;
And whan tyme is / yee shuln han your pleisir.
Often vp-on him awayte moot y. He waits tm
To wite and knowe / wel and redily,^ 607
The tyme / whan we shal vs thidir dresse :
Ma dame / for yow / this best is, y gesse." 609
(88)
This humble lamb / this lady Innocent, 610
Of al this treson no notice hauynge,
Seide / " as fat thow doost / holde y me content."
Thus hir seruant delayed hir goynge
Til fat the wynd wel stood / the ship to brynge 614 the wind is off
Out of the port / and thidir he hir spedde, and then takes
And fat in haaste, he to the ship hire ledde. 616
her to the ship.
^ Later scribble in margin : After my most . . . Thomas, you be a
good samener (?)... thorn . . This biit made the . . . b 11 . . . Shi.
HOOCLBVE, M.P. — II.
P 0,1^3 6 (cj^^-^^
162 ZXII. jBtlKSLAUB^S WlFlft. tBfe S<»ttAK WANtS tO Ufe Wltti HKR
Th« SlUpman
■ails off with Um
Empress.
[Ieaf41,bftok]
and demands to
lie witli )ier.
Sbereftisea.
He tlireatens to
throw her into
tliesea.
She temporiies.
and asks him to
malce a private
room f(Hr them.
(89)
Whan shee withyn the Shipbord entred was,
Yp gooth the sail / to the top of the mast
Hire man, of purpos / lefte on londe / alias.
Qt^d Shee / " nat was y waar of this forcast ; "
And ther-with-al / out to weepe shee hrast.
And seide, *' what treson / doost thow, Shipman,
To me ] " IT " nay," o^aod lie, ** no treson / wowman,
617
621
(90)
624
" Nat meene I, but thus / lo / thus wole I do,
fflesshly the knowe / and aftir wedde thee."
IT ** A vow," qMO£? shee / " maad haue I god vn-to,
)pat neuere so / shal ther man do to me,
fTor thyng in this world / outake oonly he , 628
To whom y am y-bownden to / and^ knyt;
The labour is in vein / to speke of it." 630
(91)
1l " Keepe in thy wordes / womman, I thee rede," 631
Qwod he / ** considere and thynke wel, fat thow
Of thy lyf standist in peril and diede,
ffor in middes of the See been we now.
To me conforme / it shal be for thy prow, 635
Elles in-to the See wole I thee caste ;
Truste me wel / so wole y do as faste." 637
(92)
IT " Kow wel," Q^od shee / " syn y may nat asterte 638
My deeth / but y your entente fulfille,
Al-thogh it be greetly ageyn myli herte f
Yit rather than fat yee me sle or kille,
Wole y assento / so it be your wille, 642
In the ende of the ship / for to ordeyne
An honest place / and pryuee / for vs tweyne. 644
^ MS. and and.
ZXII. JBRBSLAUS'S WTFB. SHB PRAT& THB SHIP SPUT8 IN TWO. ] 63
645
649
651
656
658
(93)
" It is nat / as I hope / your entente^
111 open siglite of folk / do wtt/i me so :
Hard were it make me / ther-to consente,
ffor fat / a greet encrees were of my wo ;
Yit leuer were it me / my lyf forgo.
A pryuee place, as I seide / purueye
ffor vs / J)at folk see nat / how we foleye."
(94)
II He in the ship / where as was his plesanoe,
A place ordeyned / curtyned aboute,-
In-to the which / with heuy contenance,
Whyles he speek* with his meynee wtt/foute,
Shee entred hath / and anoon gan to loute
To god / right on hir knees she hir prayeere
Made / as I to yow shal rehercen heere :
(95)
II " god, our Lord, Ihe^u, our Saueonr,
pat fro my youthe / hsiast kept me to this day,
Curteys Iheau / me keepe now this hour
ffrom al pollucioft / so fat y may,
With herte cleene / in this woful affray,
Mj soule yilde to thy deitee ;
Mercyful lord / of this hyseeche y thee ! "
(96)
Nat endid was hire orison vnnethes,
But swich a tempest / aroos in the See,
\)at the ship brast / and there took hire dethes
They fat ther in weren / the hool meynee,
Sauf oonly this maistir shipman / and shee :
By oon of the hordes / shee faste hire heeld,
Wliich from hire deeth was hire deffense & sheeld, 672
^ In margin, later scribble : A nanny . . A nnnn . . hon • .
In the . . In the . . In the . . In.
M 2
[lMif4S]
He cannot me*n
to force her before
his
652 The Shipman
malces a curtaind
room.
659 The Emprwe
prays to God to
save her from
pollution.
663
665
666 CIeaf4S.bM^k]
A tempest splits
the ship in two.
All the crew
perish, but slie
670 and the Shipman.
^^^•^Ba (c
^i-
164 XZII. JfiRESLAUS's WIFB ENTERS A NUNNERY. HEALS THE SICK.
Th« Emprw* to
eirried safely to
lund.
T)ie Shipman to
atooMved.
(97)
And brogbte hire vp / vn-to the land saufly.
To an otbir bord / this maister shipman
Eek claf / and was sauf / this fil wondirly :
!Many maistries our lord god do can ;
And fat this lady, this noble womman
Was sauf / this maistir shipman kneew no deel,
Ne shee / fat he fortuned had so weel.
(98)
U Of this shipman / speke y no more as now ;
The EmpraM goes But this lady / Yu-to a Kounerie
]>at was but there faste by / hir drow,
"Wlier the ladyes / of hir conpaignie
Were ful glad, & of hir genterie
Beceyued hire / al thogh fat no notice
They hadde / of hire estat of Emperice.
Ckaf4S]
and, by Ood'e
grace, heals sick
folk.
Her cursed
brother>in-tow
to now a leper.
(99)
And there abood shee / a long tymes space
In holy lyf / and vertuous clennesse ;
Vn-io whom god yaf / and shoop swich a grace,
]>a\, shee kowde hele folk* of hir seeknesse.
What so it were / and thidir gan hem dresse
ffrom eu«*y part / and eue?'y Contree,
They fat felten any infirm itee.^
(100)
Than shoop it / he fat to the Emperour
Was brothir / which this lady on a tree
By hire heer vp heeng / fat cursid traitour,
Mirowr of malice and iniquitee.
As foul a leepre was / as mighle be :
Lo, thogh god him / to wreke a whyle abyde,
The &ls and wikkid, qwytith he sum tyde.
673
677
679
680
684
686
687
691
693
694
698
700
* Later scribble in margin : ' Righte welle . . Robarte . . Ro-
barte . • ffhnnmm.'
fd.
m)
XXII. JEBESLAUS'S WIFE. HER 4 BETRAYERS ABB ALL DISBA8D. 165
(101)
The knygfet eek which the Erles dogfetir slow —
The Empe?*ice & shee / bothe sleepynge,
As I before told haue / vn-to yow —
Was blynd and deef / and also the tremblynge
Of palesie / sore gan him wrynge :
No force how sore / swich a wreeche smerte,
That to wom?7ien / so cruel is of herte.
(102)
H The theef / which to the maistir of the ship
Betrayed thempe?ice, his lady, als
fl6x)m harm ne greef / kowde nat make a skip —
God sheelde he sholde / he |)at was so fals
To hire / fat from the roop[e] kepte his hals —
Potagre and gowty / & halt he was eek*,
And was in othir sundry wyse seek*.
701 The fiOM knight
who kild th«
Earl's daughter
705
707
712
714
Is blind, dea(^
and palsied.
708 Cleaf4S,baek1
l*he thief-servant
Is gooty and
lame.
(103)
H The Shipman had also the franesie,
J?at wtt/i this Empence / hadde ment
ffultillid his foul lust of aduoutrie.
Which was in him / ful hoot and ful feruent :
See how aH hem / Jjat to this Innocent,
This noble lady / had y-doon greuance,
Our lord god qwitte / vfiili strooke of vengeance.
715 Tlie Shipman
has the frenzy.
719
721
(104)
If Yee men, whos vsage is, wom7?ien to greeue, 722
And falsely deceyue hem and by tray e,
No wondir is / thogh yee mis happe & cheeue :
God qwyte yow wole / and your wages paye
In swich [e] wyse / fat it yow shal affraye. 726
Let goddes wreches hens-foorth yow miroure,
flPor, but if yee do / yee shul bye it soure. 728
God's vengeance
falls on deceivers
of women.
f^//3d/^/y->a)
166 XXII. JBR.'S WITS. HER FALSE BROTHEB-IN-LAW C01IR8 TO HBR.
Oaf 44]
Wh%n th« Em-
peror hears of the
Holy Woman
who heali all
sicknesMt,
(105)
If Now to the Empcrour, tome wole y,
Which, whan he herde / J)at in an Ahbeye
Of Nonnes / was a wom97ian so holy,
And ther-to so konnynge, he herd[e] seye,
That voide kowde shee / and dryue aweye
Seeknesses all / of what kynde or nature
They weren / and hem hele wel & cure,
729
33
735
(106)
hebidehiiieproos Right thus vn-to his brothir seide he tho :
brother go with m ii • i i / i
him to htr, " To this holy womwian / best is pat we.
As faste as we may make ys reedy, go,
Syn, so good / and so gracious is shee,
and get eurad. JHit of thy leepre / shee may cure thee/'
This was assentid / they hem haaste & bye
In what they may / vn-to fat Nonnerie.
736
740
742
Tlie Abbees and
Convent meet
the Emperor,
(107)
Knowen vn-to thabbesse & hir Couent
How fat the Emperour / was ny comynge,
Ageyn him in processiofl / arn they went,
Hir seruice f ul deuoutly syngynge.
And dide al / fat was to swich cas longynge.
And whan he in thabbeye was alight.
Thus of thabbesse / he axid anoon right :
743
747
749
(108)
neaf44,ba*ii] **Is ther any swich womman in this hous, 750
As folkes hele can of hir seeknesse 1
Men seyn, heere is a womman merueillous :
Slial it be fownden soo " / he seide, " Abbesse 1 "
and tell him they If And shoo uusworde / " Sire, in soothfastnesse 754
have a Woman of . , / j 11 » 1 ;i i
aneqaaid power. A good womman / dwellyuge IS / vrtih vs heere.
Which in vertu / we knowen noon hir peere." 756
C3a^. u)
XXn. JBRBSU'S WIFS BIDS HER 4 BKTRAXERS CONFESS THEIR SINS. 167
761
763
764
(109)
She dide hir come anoon / to his presence ;
But with hir veil / hir face hid had shee,
To been vnknowe / and dide him reue?*ence,
As longid vn-to his hy Dignitee.
And right as hlyue / of hire axid he,
" Can yee my brothir / of his maladie
Of leepre, cure, and of meselrie ]
(110)
" If fat yee can / now teH on, y yow preye,
ffor your labour / ful wel qwyte wole y."
But or fat shee / aght wolde answere & seye.
She caste hir look about[en] / and there sy
The Empej'oures brothir stande by,
J)at leepre was / and eek* tho othir three
])at had hir doon so greet aduersitee,
(HI)
That is to seyn / the knyght, theef, and shipman ; 771
And thanne shee spak* / and seide in this wyse :
" Sire / noon fat is heere, y cure can ;
I may nat take vp-on me fat empryse —
Ther-to may nat my konnynge souffyse — 775
But if fat they / an open shrifte make
Of hire offenses dirke & synnes blake." 777
757 TheEmpraM
comes veild to
the Emperor,
768
770
(112)
If To his brothir / than spak* this Empe?'our :
" Among all vs / thee openly confesse ;
Spare nat to deskeue?*e thyn errour,
Syn fat thow ther-by / maist, of* thy seeknesse
Cured be / telle out al thy wikkidnesse ;
Be nat abassht / it manly is to synne,
But feendly is / longe lye ther-ynne."
sees hii leprous
brother,
[leaf 45]
and her other
three betrayers,
and says she
cannot cure them
unless they con-
fess their sins.
778 The Emperor bids
his brother con-
fess his guilt.
782
1 ^ humanum est *
peocare, &c>
784
^ Later, above this : John.
^C,^Y;Stf
(^ y^^-z -2)
168 ZXII. JERESLAUS'S WIFEL THE BMPEROR's BROTHER TRICKS HIM.
The Brofclier
nukes a sham
ecmfession.
bat not of his
sin against the
Empress.
(113)
fEor forme / a confession made he,
Swich as it was / but how the Empence,
his lordes wyf / he heeng vp-on a tree
By hire heer / tolde he nat / \ai cursid vice,
ffor tome it sholde him / in-to p7'eiudice
And harm also / deskeue/'e kepte he noght,
Yit aftirward / he ther-to was y-broght
785
789
791
[leaf 45, back]
She says he has
not made fall
shrift.
(114)
Whan fflt his lewde shrifte was y-do, 792
" Sire," qz«?d shee / " laboure y sholde in veyn,
If aght I leide / your brothir vn-to,
ffor he maad haath / noon hool[e] shrifte, ne pleyn."
H This Empe?*our vn-to him spak* ageyn : 796
" Woost thow nat weel / thow art a foul mesel 1
Telle out, let see / shryue thee cleene and wel,
(115)
" Or truste me weel / for fat encheson)
Thow voide shalt / out of my conpaignie."
H " Lord " he seide / " but if your pardofi
798
799
The Brother then
says he can't do
it unless the Em- Yee me promette / I dar nat specifie
peror *11 forgive
him. word of my gilt / I yow mercy crye."
803
H Qi^od tliemperour / " what, haast thow agilt me % "
H " Cartes, right greeuously / my lord," seide he. 805
(116)
H " Now," qwod the Emperour / "and haast thow so?"
And of the Emperice / he thoghte nat, 807
But weenynge / shee many a day ago.
Deed had been / seide / " what offense is that ]
810
The Emperor pro- Be nat aferd / but teH on plein & plat,
mises to pardon
him. ffor what so fat it be / y foryeue al ;
Truste wel / fat y seye, y holde shal.*'^
812
^ Later scribble at foot, c. 1600, 'per me wyllyam . . per me
me wyllyam Hopkins.'
J<UJ.
UL^ (&
jeresl/s wif£. her false brother-in-law confesses his sin. 169
[leaf 46]
The Emperor's
brother confefses
hid sin against th«
Empress.
817
819
820 '^0 Emperor is
, almost beside
himself,
(117)
Ther-with, al was his brothir herted weel : 813
Al how the Emperice had he betrayed,
Before hem all / he tolde out euerydeel ;
Where-of / the Empe?*our was sore aflfrayed.
His brothres reward / had nat been vnpayed,
Nad promesse of the Emperour him bownde
To pardoil / for which wo was hi^n fat stowude ;
(118)
Almoost he was / out of him self certeyn ; —
So seith the book* / and fat was no memaift.
What lord is fat / if swich a word sodeyn
To hhn cam of his wyf / whos gouemaitt
Was hires lyk* / but ny to sholde him fail!
his wit and his good disposicion)
fFor the sodeyn woful impression) ]
(119)
ffor falle anoon sholde in his remembrance
Hir vertuous manere and wommanhede,
hir beautee / shap / good cheere & daliance :
Al this considered / withouten drede,
Out of the weye of ioie / him wolde lede, 831
The mis / of so vertuous a pe?*sone ;
And yit nat for fat encheson) allone f ^ 833
(120)
But also the vnkyndely tresoii
Of his brothir / fat him to him had qwit
So falsely / me thynkith by reson)
Stike right ny / vn-to his herte oghte it,
And causen him / f ul many an heuy fit ; 838
But nathelees / wit axith, & prudence,
Al thyng fat fallith / take in pacience. 840
* Later scribble in margin : * spindlye (?) Rslm . . Rv 2 (?) be that . . he that
my . . he that in youth no verke will vse, all . . thomas . . ddcn . . god . . y, d,
d d M c. c\ . d . . d . . ij daye . And . . iiij D . . hud . . h . . m, m.'
824
826
827 remembering his
wife's Tiitue and
beauty,
834 Deaf 46, back]
and his brotlier's
unnatural treason.
^■tSll^ (c/^^^ 1
170 ZXII. JKRBBU'S WIFB. THE FAUU KNIGHT AliM) 0ON?188B8 HIS 8i:i.
Th« Emptror
cnnM hb brother,
and Mid he'd
(121)
U Now to my purpos / themperowr tho gpak*
To his brothir / and thus he to him seide :
" Thow cursid wrecche / thow demoniak' !
Jjat our lord god / which for vs alle deide,
The strook of his vengeance / vp-on thee leide,
No wondir is / had y this befom wist,
Thy body sholde ban the grownd swept & kist ;
(122)
paoish Urn
sharply if he
hadn't promist
to forgive him.
'' And ther-to eek / as sharp[e] punissheraent
As fat dyuyse ther kowde any wigbt,
Thow sholdest ban y-preeued by the sent ;
But holde wole y / fat y thee baue bight."
Then the Knight If And thanue confesse him / began the knygbt
Jjat the Erles doghtir slow / " as sbee sleep," —
lo, thus be seide / takith now good keep^ —
(123)
[leaf 47] IT " Notice noon," seide he, " ne knowlechynge
baue y of fat lady / ne who it is,
confesMs tiiat his But as my loid the Erl rood on huntynge
found a lady * In a forcste ones / wel woot y this,
haii% "* ^ ^"^ A fair lady he fond hangynge I wis
On a tree by hire beer / and of pitee
And routbe meeued / hire adoun took* be,
(124)
" And to bis Castcl / wtt^ him hire be ladde.
And the charge / bytook* to hire, and cure,
To keepe a yong Doghtir / wbicli fat he hadde.
Hire to tecbe and to leme norture.
But to me shoop ther / a mis-auenture ;
The Knight tried I bisyed me / to baue by hire leyn ;
to lie with her. . , , , , / j-i j
And al my labour / ydil was and veyn.
and put her in
charge of his
daughter.
841
845
847
848
852
854
855
859
861
862
866
868
^ Later, at foot : ' Thomas Onalor . . . moste.*
9C^. I ^^ ra^xj
j/S WIFE. KNIOHT AND THIBF OONFBSS THEIR SINS AQAIN8T HER. 171
873
875
(125)
** ffor any craft / fat euere kowde y do, 869
To me shee wolde assente by no way ;
I kowde in no wyse / brynge hire ther-to ;
hire answere was euere oon / & that was * nay/
Which was nothyng / vn-to my lust and pay ;
\Vherfore meued was y, nat a lyte,
But ful greatly / and hire y thoghte qwyte,^
(126)
" And in hir bed / as shee lay on a nyght,
This yonge maide / and shee sleepynge faste,
I kilde the chyld / and ther-with, foorth-right
The bloody knyf / in-to tho hand y thraste
Of the lady / for J)at men sholde caste 880
And suppose / how ]?at no wight but shee
Mighte of this slaghtre and murdre gilty be, 882
(127)
'* And thens / my lord maade hire voyde anoon ; 883
But wher shee becam / am y nat priuee ; ^
God woot / fat knowleche / haue y ther-of noon."
IT Than spak* the theef / " y noot whom meene yee,
But a lady of excellent beautee 887
AUone and s6ul / cam by the way rydyngo,
Whan for my gilt / y led was to hangynge ;
(128)
** And whan fat this lady benigne & good,
Had hir look toward me cast, and espyed
ffrom a-fer / in what mescheef fat y stood,
hire herte anoon / of pitee was applyed,
Me to socoure and helpe / and hath hire hyed
Vn-to the place / wher deed sholde y be.
And payde for my lyf / and saued me ;
^ in margin, by a later hand, c. 1500 :
* of all good ihmges the worlde brought forth,
a faithefuU frende ys thinge moste worthe ' . . .
*gouemor.' (later still) * 1 shall the thyngc* the world brought
forth ' . . . ' y • . . . * H. Pershe ' (?) » * lay ' (later, at side).
And when •!)•
reftiMd,
876 [l«af47,»»ckj
he kild the Barl't
child, and pat the
bloody knife in
the Lady's iiand.
And Rhe was sent
away.
Then the Thief-
servant confesses
889
890 how tlie Lady
894
896
rescued liim
tcom death.
?A /^Sj (c^¥^:^:C\
172 JBRESL.'S WIFE. THE SHIPMAN CONFESSES HIS SIN AGAINST HER
Deaf 48]
And he betnyd
her to a lecherous
Sliipman, who
sai Id off with her.
The Shipman
confesses that
he did so.
bat a storm
(129)
" And aftirward, I, as a fals traitour 897
Ageyn hir gentillesse and hy bontee,
To a shipman / which was a foul lecchour,
Betrayed hire / and to his Con tree
him shoop lede hire / this man delauee, 901
And fer in-to the See y saw hew saitt ;
But what fil aftir / woot y nat sanz faiH." 903
(130)
IT " Swich a fair lady, certein y receyued 904
In-to my ship '* / seide the Shipman tho,
** And thoghte haue hire deffoulid & deceyned
Amiddes the See / but shee preide so
To god / fat my desyr was y put fro ; 908
I mighte nat acheeue my purpoos. '
Whan shee had preid / an hidous storm aroos, 910
(131)
" And shortly / of this for to speke and telle, 911
The wynd ful sore / in the sail bleew & haf,
And the wawes began to bolne & swelle,
And our taklynge brast / and the ship claf
In two / of seurtee loste y ny the staf ; 915
Vndir the watir / wenten euerychone ;
My self except / knowe I no sauf persons. 917
(132)
" By a bord of the ship, heeld y me faste ; 918
And as fat my fortune shoop fat tyde.
The wawes me sauf vp-on the land caste."
IT This Eniperice list no lengere hyde
The Empress says What bat shco was / but spak* / and sumdel cvyde 922
the four guilty '^ ...
men are now 1 On hy / and to hem seide in this maneere :
dean shriven.
" Now been yee cleene shryuen / freendes deere \ 924
cUive his ship.
and he alone
[leaf 48, back]
escaped to land.
^ In margin, later : ' lohn bo . . b b.'
9UJ.
( Su^. K)
XXII. JBRESLAUS 8 WIFB RBJOINS HIM.
(133)
"Now shul yee aft haue of me medecyne." 925
Shee dide hire art / <fe helid ene^y wigfet
Of his seeknesse / & voidid al his pyne ;
And from hire heed / shee hath hir veil y-pligfet,
And hem hir face shewid anoon right. 929
And as swythe / as the Emperowr hir sy,
Jjat shee his wyf was / kneew lie verraily ; 931
(134)
And wttitoute delay / to hire he sterte, 932
And hire embraced in his armes tweyne,
And kiste hire often / with vnfeyned herte ;
But fro weepynge y he kowde hiw» nat restreyne,
Thogh it nat causid were of greef & peyne, 936
But of the inward ioie which fat stownde
He took*, by-cause he had his wyfe y-foMmde. 938
(135)
IT / many a wrecche is in this lond, y weene / 939
J?at thogh his wyf lengere had been him fro,
No kus / but if it had been of the spleene,
Shee sholde han had / & forthermore also,
ffyndynge of hire / had been to him but wo, 943
ffor him wolde han thoght fat swich a fyndynge,
To los sholde han him tomed, and harmynge. 945
(136)
No force of fat / my tale I now thus eende : 946
Hoom vn-to his Paleys this Emperour
And his good lady themperice weende,
And lyueden in ioie and by honour
Til fat the tyme of deeth cam, and his hour, 950
Which fat no wight eschue may, ne flee ;
And whan god list / also dye shul we. 952
(JxpUrit fabttk be nudt-am Imperatr/re ^Rowiana.
173
The Einpreu
then cures the
4 offenders,
and lifts her veil.
The Emperor sees
site's his wife,
kisses her, and
weeps for Joy.
[lMr49j
(Many a wretch
now would be
sorry to And Iris
wife again.)
The Emperor
took his wife
home, and they
livd happily tiU
they died.
? a^f^fso (e f^-^L
^
174 XXII. hoooleyb's fribnd gives him the mobal of thb btort.
My n-iend came
1
and lookt thro'
this tal«,
(1)
My freend, aftir, I trowe, a wike or two
That this tale endid was / hoom to me cam,
And seide / " Thomas / hastow almoost do 1
To see thy werk* / hidir comen y am."
My tale anoon y fette / and he it nam 5
In-to his hand / and it al ouersy ;
And aftirward / he seide thus therhy : 7
(2)
[leaf 49, back] if *< Thomas, it is wel vn-to my lykyng ; 8
and then askt me But is thei aght fflt thow puTposist seye
More on this tale 1 " IT " nay, my freend / no thyng."
** Thomas / heere is a greet substance aweye :
Where is the moralizynge / y yow preye, 12
Bycome heere-of / was ther noon in the book*
Out of the which / ]?at thow this tale toobl" 14
where tlte Mora
Uziiig was.
I'd MTtr leen
one.
So my fHend
went home.
fetcht it, and left
it with me.
And I at once
Englieht it in
prose.
(3)
IT " Ko certes, freend / ther-in ne was ther noon.
" Sikirly, Thomas / there-of I meruaiti ;
Hoom wole y walke / and retotnue anoon ;
Nat spare wole y / for so smal trauaiti,
And looke in my book* / there y shal nat faiti
To fynde it / of ]?at tale it is parcel,
ffor y seen hauo it ofte / & knowe it weL"
(4)
He cam ther-wtt^ / and it vn-to me redde,
Leuynge it with me / & hoom wente ageyn ;
And to this moralyzynge I me spedde.
In prose wrytynge it / hoomly and pleyn,
fifor he conseillid me / do so / certeyn ;
And lo / in this wyse and maneere it seith,
Which to ])at tale is good be knyt, in feith :
15
19
21
22
26
28
i'^W.
9M^_ C£.
XXII. JBIIBSLAUS^S WlPa THB MOBAUXIKO OF THE STORT. 175
IT l&tc tncipit tnotalijacio^ p«^»3
This Emperour J)at y spaki of aboue / is our lord Ilic^ tiw Emperor is
Cryst / his wyf / is the soule; Themperoures brother, man;
brothir is man / to whom god co?nmitted and by took* maii't"body*ai»d
the cure and the charge of his Empire / ]?at is to seyn, ***" *
of his body / & nathelees principally of the soule / but
the wrecchid flessh ful often sythe stireth and excitith
the soule vn-to synne / but the soule J>at entierly loueth
god abouen alle thynges / makith euere resistence vn-to Th# mui reeieu
synne / and takith his mightes & powers / \a\, is to
seye, reson / wil / intellect and conscience, & makith
swich inobedient fiessfi to the spirit, to been enprisoned
in the prison of penance / til it obeye in att thynges to
reson. IF Thempcrour, J)at is to seye, Cryst, is to come
to the synnerd / & thanne the fiessK cryeth, axynge Tiiefle«hcrk»
for mercy,
grace / and as often as he hath mercy / he hath hope /
& for trust h hope of mercy / the rather<9 wole he synne. and then sin*
H Ageyn swiche folk spekith holy scripture in this
wyse: IT "Accursid is or be \a\> man \ai synneth in tMaiedictu«
hope " / to which the soule is often sythe enclyned / in fpe.
shee letith the flessh goon out of the prison of penance /
shee was.shith & pourgith the flessh of the ^filthes of [iieaf5o,badi|
eynne / clothynge it wttA goode vertues, & makynge it
ascende / and worthe vp-on the steede of charitee / to
ryde in good wirkes and deedes / fat it may meete with
god in the holy day of Estren / but alias and wele-
away / often sythe the synnere offendith and trespaceth
by the way in J-at holy tyme / where-of the hert rysith /
fat is to seyn, Delectacton of synne / and aH the wittes
rennen aftir synne / and the howndes / )>at is to seyn, The hound* are
the wikkid thoghtes, alway berken, & maken swich
iustigacion / fat man, fat is to seyn, the fless^ and the
soule, been to-gidere left with-outen any yertu / and
^.aj^So (^/y:j^^
176 ZXII. JBRESLAUS'S WIFE. THB MORALUSINa OF THE 8T0RT.
the flessfi apparceyuynge J)at / solicitith and byayeth
hire / stirynge the ful noble soule, which is Crystes
spowse / vn-to synne / but nathelees the soule fat is
wel beloued of god, and vn-to Cryst weddid & oned,
The iieih rtripi wole nat foFsake god and consento to synne / wherfore
the soul of her -i.-i/i*.-! .n-i
ciotiiet or virtue*, the wrecchid nessn despoillith often and robbith the
and hangs her on soule of hir clothes / ))at is to seyn, goode vertues / and
an oak by foni i»i •■! t i * » t i-nii
detiret. hire hougith on an ook* / fat is to seyn, worldly delyt
& delectacion) / by the heeres / J?at is to seyn / by
wikkid concupiscences and desirs, til the £rl / fat is to
C» leaf SI] seyn, the ^prechour or discreet confessour, hunte in the
The Bari hunting forcste of this world with vertuous sarmonynge &
!• the Preacher,
prechynge / yeuynge Conseil and reed to Do goode
and vertuous deedes / berkynge / fat is to seyn, pro-
nouncynge the wordes of holy scripture / and thus the
who leads the discreet Confessour or prechour ledith the lady / bat is
soul to Holy *> I '
Church. to meene, the soule / vn-to the hows of holy chirche /
for to teche & norisshe the maiden / fat is to seyn / to
hele the conscience Yri\h the wirkes of mercv. IF The
The Earl's Erf, bcfore his bed hath a laumpe / fat is to seyn, the
lump is
that of Holy discicet coufessof^r, prelat or prechour / hath alway
Scripture.
befom the yen of his herte the laumpe of holy scripture /
in which he seeth the griefs and annoyes of the soule,
& tho thynges eek* fat ther-to been profitable and
necessarie / fat is to seyn / drawynge or plukkynge
out of it / vices / and puttynge or ympynge in it
The had Steward vcrtucs. IT The Sty wai'd fat excited and stired hire to
is the pride of life,
synne / certein, fat is pryde of lyf / which is the
Styward of this world / by whom many folk been
deceyued and begyled / but the soule of god beloued /
[« leaf 51, backs] ^ffQ\Q nat couscntc to pryde / what ^dooth therfore
worldly pryde / certein, it takith the knyf of auarice /
whan shee profrith a man a purs ful of moneye / cast-
which slays ynge it bcfom the yen of a man / and so shee sleeth
the maiden,
Conscience. the maiden, fat is to seyn, good conscience / where-of
s
At top, later : ** Munera execant oculos Judicum,"
9/r^.l^4
XXII. JBRESLAUS'S WIFE. T&B MORALIJSING OF THB STORT. 177
it is writen thus: IT "Yiftes or meede blynden the ^Muu*raexce-
, cant ockIos ludi-
luges yen / and peruerten wyse men /so fat eqmtee cu» &d [Deut.
xvi 191
or euenehede mighte nat entre / but stood al a-f er / and
the iugement was tomed vp so doun / Swiche been
they ))at been, or oghte been, put out of the Chirches
lappa or bosom. IT The lady rood soul or all one / and
apparceyuynge a man led to the galwes, &c / This man The Thief led to
the gallowi, is
may be led to his deeth by deedly synne wirkynge / let man led to deiuh
vs therfore do / as dide fat lady / shee smoot hir hors
wtt^ hir spores / so sholde we do / we sholden prikke
our flessh w^'t/^ the spores of penance / and helpe and
socoure our neighburgh in his necessitee, nat oonly
wit^ goodes temporel / but also vii\h goodes spirituel.
IT Where-of seith Salomon: IT "wo is bat man bat ^veho»<«ip«s-
' cato iaoenti Ac-
lyth soul m synne / & hath no wignt to be holpen by
or conforted." IT hye thee, man, hye thee / areise or
rere vp thyn neighburgh ^fat is doun faH / for the P leaf 62«]
brothir fat is holpen of his brothir is lyk a strong or
sad Citee / "who so oonly yeueth cold watir to his ^scriptuwest,
Frater qttl adui-
brothir to drynke / he shal nat leese his meede'' / but uatMrarra^re&o
manye vnkynde folk* ther been, as was the theef fat
betrayed his lady aftir shee had saued him from his
deeth / Some men yilden euel ageyn good to hem
doon / where-of spekith ysaye thus : IT " wo be to them ve iih* qui dicunt
fat callen good euel / and euel good." IT The Maistir malum bonnw!
of the ship is the feend / by whom many folk been Tite'shipman is
deceyued in the See / fat is to seyn, in this world / **** ^*^*^*
Att thynges been vanitee, seith Ecclesiastes / but the EcciMiasteaci.s]:
ship is broken as ofte as any wight cheesith wilful tatumft<y
pouert / and he fat obeieth to his Prelat in dSi thynges
for god / thanne hatith he the world and the con-
cupiscence of it / It is impossible to plese the world
and god. IT The lady wente to the Abbeye / So The Abbey is a
tomed the soule to holy lyf fro worldly tribulacioiis /
• At top, later : ** It«n to wyllyam harugh ffor my povnd of
cheres [?] y."
HOOOLBVB, M.P. — II. N
'.a /ifio (c/4^-C^yJn<J %
/iL.
178
ZXIU. HOW TO LBARN TO DDE.
[1 leaf 52, back]
The soul can't be
seen by Christ
till all the senses
are sbriyen.
L$am to Die,
yvheTthxagU tdi the wittes by whiche the soule vexed
was, and troubled / been infect wtt^ dyuerse seeknesses /
as ye / by the concupiscence of yen / heerynge / by
detraccton, ^and so foorth/ wherfore the soule may nat
openly be seen of Cryst, hir spowse / til fat att the
wittes be confessed openly / and thanne doutelees the
soule may be led to the ioie of poradys, to which he vs
brynge, pat starf for out redempcion, amen.
t fflJxplicit moralijatio,
& incipit ars fatilligsima gcienii mori .♦
€vim omneis fjomines naturaU'fer gcire 5e^
giBerant $c t' ..
(1)
Since all men
desire knowledge.
yn alle men naturelly desyre
To konne / o. eterne sapience,
vniuersel Prince / Lord & Syre,
Auctour of nature / in whos excellence
Been hid alle the tresors of science,
Makere of al / and pat al seest & woost,
I ask Thee, Lord, This axc y thee / thow lord of mightes moost,
(2)
Thy tresor of wisdam / & the konnynge
Of seintes / opne thow to me, y preye,
\)at y ther-of / may haue a knowlechynge ;
Enforme eek me / and vn-to me by-wreye —
Syn thow of al science berst the keye —
Sotil matires right ^ profownde & greete.
Of whiche / y feruently desire trete.
(3)
to open Thy
treasure of
wisdom to me.
12
14
[leaf 68] IT " souc myu / sauoure nat so hye, T sap<«i«a. 15
But dreede / herkne / and y shal teche thee
Thyng pat shal to thy soule fructifie ;
^ Sotile materes A (Ashbomham MS).
•l^lif 0''''^'''^)^^^^ ^^f^ C^^m)
26
28
XXIU. HOW TO LBABN TO DIB.
A chosen yifte shalt^ thow haue of me ;
My lore / etemel lyf shal to thee be, 19
The dreede of god / which the begynnynge is ^ lUpf^^
Of wisdam / shalt thow leme^ / & it is this : dSii.
(4)
" Now herkne a doctrine substancial,
% ffirst, how Lerne Dye/ telle wole y ;
U The .ij.*** how J?at a man lyue shal ;
U The iij.** how a man sacramentally
Eeceyue me shal / wel and worthyly ;
H The .iiij.® how with an herte cleene & pure
That ar man loue me shal and honure."
(5)
H " Tho thynges .iiij."' good lord, haue y eucre \ Di«cip«ii«
Desired for to knowe / and hem to leere ; 30
Vn-to myn herte ther is nothyng leuere ;
A bettir thyng / can y nat wisshen heere ;
But tellith me this / this fayn wolde y heere 33
What may profyte the lore of dyynge, Jo^i3;j^&/P^*"* ***°
Syn deeth noon hauynge is / but a pryuynge %
(6)
" ffor shee, man reueth of lyf the swetnesse."
IT '^ Sone, the art to lerne for to dye \ sapie»Ma
Is to the soule an excellent swetnesse,
To which y rede / thow thyn herte applie ;
Ther is noon art / fat man can specific
So profitable / ne worthy to be
Preferred artes aH / as fat is shee.
(7)
" To wite and knowe / fat man is mortel,
It is commune / vn-to folkes alle ;
})at man shal nat lyue ay heer / woot he wel ;
No trust at al / may in his herte falle,
That he eschape or flee may dethes galb,
' shalt A, om, D. ' leere A.
N 8
179
WUdom tays
the fear of Qod ie
the banning of
wisdom. (Ft.
xvi. 10.)
22 Shell teach,
1. how to learn to
die;
2. how to live;
40
42
43
47
8. how to receive
Wisdom;
4. how to love
her.
35
36 Pear53,back]
1. The art to learn
how to die
is better than all
other arts
^^^/yS(J ("^6/^:^5
180
ZXm. HOW TO LEARN TO DII.
But fewe pat can die / sbalt thow seen ;
It is the yifte of god / best fat may been.
(8)
It u to have heart " To lerne foi to die / is to ban ay
and MMil read J
Botbe herte and soule / redy bens to go,
49
60
when death
eomea,
Deaf 54]
Man J take no
thought of Death,
and when they
die, th^ go to
Hell.
Porwake your
•Um at (Mice !
Tbat whan deetb cometh / for to cacche bir pray,
Man rype be / the lyf to twynne fro,
And hire to take / and receyue also 54
As be tbat tbe comynge of bis felawe
Desiritb / and is tber-of ^ glad & fa we. 56
(9)
" But more barm is / ful many oon sbalt thow fynde,
j)at ageyn deotb / maken no purueance ; 58
Hem lothen / deetb for to bane in bir mynde ;
f>at tbog&t / they holden tboght of encombrance ;
worldly swetnesse / sleetb swich remembrance ; 61
And syn to die / nat lemed ban they,
flfro the world twynne / they wolde in no way. 63
(10)
'* They mocbil of hir tyme / ban despended 64
In synne / and for-thy / whan, vnwaarly, deetb
Vp-on hem fallith / and they nat amendid,
And sbal from hem byreue wynd and breeth,
ffor sbee vnreedy fynt hem / whan shee sleetb / 68
To belk goon tho soules miserable,
There to dwells in peyne perdurable. 70
(11)
"Deetb wolde ban ofte a brydil put on thee, 71
And thee with hire / led away shee wolde,
Nadde the hand of goddes mercy be.
Thow art ful^ mochil / vn-to fat lord bolde,
j)ai, for thow wrappid were in synnes olde, 75
he spared thee / thy synnes now forsake.
And vn-to my doctrine / thow thee take I 77
' ther-ofisA. ^ right A.
}U^.A^n (^^-■H)
ZXm. HOW TO LEikRk TO DIB.
(12)
82
84
85
89
91
92
" More to thee profyte shal my lore
Than chosen gold / or the bookee echone
Of Philosophies / and for fat the more
Feruently / sholde it stire thy p^rsone
Vndir sensible ensaumple thee to one
To god / and thee the bettre for to thewe,
The mist^/ie of my lore / y shal the shewe.^
(13)
" Beholde now^ the liknesse and figure • inward a
Of a man dyynge and talkyng with thee."
IT The disciple, of pat speeche took* good cure,
And in his conceit / bysyly soghte he.
And ther-with-al / considere he gan, & see
In him self put / the figure & liknesse
Of a yong man of excellent faimesse,
(14)
Whom deeth so ny ransakid had, & soght,
\ia\t he withynne a whyle sholde dye.
And for his soules helthe / had he right noght
disposid / al vnreedy hens to hye
Was he / and therfore he began to crye
With lamentable vois / in this maneere,
J)at sorwe and pitee greet / was it to heere : ^
(15)
IT " Environd han me, dethes waymentynges, J^J^'^T^m^
Sorwes of helle han conpaced me ; '"" °*^"**' **''
Alias, eternel* god ! .o. kyng of kynges, * eteme
Wher-to was y born / in this world to be ;
0. alias / why in my natiuitee 103
^ In the Ashbumham MS the inside double-leaf of the next
quu'e has been sewn up as the outside of the other, so that stan-
zas 19-24 here come before stanzas 13-18. In like wise, stanzas
25-30 here come in the Ashburnh. MS. after stanzas 81-36 here.
* lu margin, later, ) about 1500,
Before thou pretend? any evilt in thy harte, | q?«od
Remember the en(l when thow shalt departe, i Carter.
181
78 Peaf 64, back]
96
98
Wisdom bids lier
Disciple
itippose a dyitif?
man talks to liim.
a man who is not
ready for death.
Peaf 65]
* The pains of
Hell compass me.
tlXi^ (^?C/y:i^^
183
XXIII. HOW TO LEARN TO DIE.
Nadde I perisshid 1 o, the begynnynge
Of my lyf was with sorwe & with weepynge, 105
(16)
" And now myn ende comth / hens moot y go 106
With sorwe / waylynge and greet heuynesse.
Death'* preMnoe O. tieeth, thy mynde is full of bittir wo ;
Vn to an herte wont vn-to gladnesse,
And norisshid in delicat swetnesse, 110
u horrible to me. Homble is thy presence / and f ul greeuable
To him fat vong is / strong and prosperable. 112
(17)
" Litil wende y so soone to han deid : 113
O cruel death / thy comynge is sodeyn ;
fful vnwaar was y / of thy theefly breid ;
Thow haast as in awayt / vp-on me leyn ;
Thy comynge vn-to me / was^ vncerteyn ; 117
Thow haast vp-on me stolen / and me bownde ;
Eschape y may nat now / my mortel wownde. 119
(18)
" Thow me wttA thee drawist in yren cheynes, 120
As a man dampned / wont is to be drawe
To his torment / outrageous been my peynes.
A, now for sorwe / and fere of thee & awe,
I cry, but can And With haudcs clight / y cryc / and wolde fa we 124
no place to flee to,
Wite the place whidir for to flee ;
But swich oon / fynde can y noon / ne see.* 126
(19)
" I looke on euery syde bisyly, 127
But help is noon / help and confort been dede ;
A vois horrible of deeth / sownynge heere y,
j)at seith me thus / which encressith my drede :
* Thow dye shalt / reson noon / ne kynrede, 131
Bot I cannot
eecapeit.
[lear 55, back]
and no one to
help me.
^ Thyn hour was vn-to me ful — A.
' A. goes on with st. 31, p. 186 : * Or as an arwe shot out of a
bowe,' the leaf being misplaced.
JlnJ. AZM (d^. H)
XXUL HOW TO LEARN TO DIB. 183
ffrendshipe / gold / ne noon othir richesse
May thee deliure / out of dethes duresse. 133
(20)
" *Thyn eende is comen / comen is thyn eende, 134 mj end is com*.
It is decreed / ther is no resistence.'
lord god / shal y now die / and hennes weende ]
Whethir not changed may be this sentence ; cannot my sent-
ence be changed P
0. lord, may it nat put been* m suspense? » be put a. 138
Shal y out of this world so soone go 1
Alias / wole it noon othir be than so ? ^ 140
(21)
" deeth, o deeth, greet is thy crueltee ! 141 [leaf m]
Thyn office al to sodeynly doost thow.
Is ther no grace 1 lakkist thow pitee 1 o Death, hast
thou no pity?'
Spare my youthe / of age rype ynow 144
To dye / am y nat yit / spare me now 1^ 8Da<fd#'ynow/
How cruel J)at thow art / on me nat kythe !
Take me nat out of this world so swythe ! " 147
(22)
IT Whan the disciple this complaynte had herd, 148
He thoghte al pat he spak* / nas but folic.
And in this wyse / *he hath* him answerd : ♦-* hath vn to a. The Disdpto
mr rm if answers the
II " Thy wordes, freend / withouten any lye, dying man j
j)at thow haast but smal lerned / testifie ; 152
Euene to alt / is dethes iugement ;
ThurgR-out the world / strecchith hir paiement. 154
(23)
" Deeth / fauorable is to no^ mauer wight; »om. no a. 155 *Deathha«no
To aH / hir self / shee delith equally ;
Shee dredith hem nat / pat been of greet might,
Ne of the olde and yonge / hath no mercy ; mercy on dd or
yoang.
^ In margin, later, c. 1500 :
Some desarve or they desyer / and yett they lacke \
that they Requyre ; f quod
Some desyre or they desarve / and yett thejy] i Carter,
gayne whylltf otha starve, /
^^A/^ZO (^Cf^:i'x
184
XZin. HOW TO LBARN TO DIB.
The lyche & pooie folk* eek" certainly
She sesith / shee sparith riglSt noon estaat ;
Al Jyat lyf berith / yfi\k hir chek* is miiat.^
159
161
[iMf 56, back]
It takes folk at
all ages.
(24)
" Ful many a wight / in youthe takith shee, 162
And many ^an othir eek*^ in middil age, »-»oon also a.
And some nat / til they right olde be :
Wendist thow han been / at swich auantage
Do you think you })at shee nat durste / han paied thee thy Wage, 166
only are to be
•pared?' But oonly han thee Spared & forbom,
And the prophetes deid han heer-beforn 1 " 168
(25)
f Than spak* thy mage / answerynge in this wyse : 169
" Soothly thow art an heuy confortour ;
Thow vndirstandist me nat / as the wyse :
They J>at continued han in hir errour,
LyuyDge in synne / vn-to hir dethes hour,
Worthy be dampned for fat they han wroght ;
And how ny deeth is / they ne dreede noght.
The supposed
dying man says
173
175
he doesn't
lament Death's
Judgment,
but his own
nnpreparedness.
(26)
" Tho men ful blynde been, & bestial.
Of fat shal folwe / aftir this lyf present,
fforsighte / swiche folk* han noon / at al.
I nat bewaille dethes iugement ;
But this is al the cause of my torment ;
The harm of vndisposid deeth / y weepe ;
I am nat reedy / in the grownd to creepe.
176
180
182
1 At foot of leaf 56, later, c. 1500 :
The brwett of evitt tonges / what woman can eschew T
or who can let a fowlc to wytt / the thinge that is vntrew :
qtiod Carter* //
In margin of leaf 56 :
Since of a womans breestes I was fostered / \
Dame Nature sayth / I sholde them Love / f qt*od
Why shold any man / ther-wyth by offended / I Carter //
In generally it is gevin firom hym above / '
JLJ. /^SM (^^ . x)
XXm. HOW TO LEARN TO DIS. 1S5
(27)
" I keepe^ nat / fat y shal liennes twyne, > wsepe a. 183 n«*^ ^
But of my dayes / I the harm bewaitt,
ffruytlees past / sauf wzt/i bitter fruyt of synne ;
I wroghte in hem nothyng / pat mighte auaitt *^ <iw nothing
To soules helthe / y dide no trauaiH 187 hwith.
To lyue wel / but leued to the staf
Of worldly lustes / to hem y me gaf. 189
(28)
" The way of trouthe y lefte / & drow to wronge ; 190
On me nat shoon the light of rightwisnesse ;
The Sonne of intellect / nat in me spronge ;
y am weary ^ of my WrOght wikkidneSSe ; » weery am a. But I am weary
of ill'doing.
y walkid haue, weyes of hardnesse 194
And of pej'dicion / nat kowdo y knowe
The way of god / wikkid seed haue y sowe. 196
(29)
** Alias, what hath pryde profytid me, 197 Prideandrich««
have past uway
Or what am y bet / for riche richesse hepynge 1
AH they as a shadwe passid be, SJ,T«™b,n!,'.iri^
And 88 a messager faste rennynge, Ti^ t^lS" T.^"
.11 / I'll* -II qataM naoli, Ac).
And also / as a ship fat is sayllynge
In the wawes / & floodes of the See,
Whos kerfe nat fownden is / whan past is shee. 203
(30)
*' Or as a brid / which in the eir fat fleeth,^ 204 peaf 67, back]
No preef * fownde is / of the cours of his flight ; 1! bwfn'X'i^
No man espie can it / ne it seeth, ♦ way a.
• At top, in a later hand : **Post bellum auxilium : Ayde
after the felde is alredy faugh t." In margin: ** fortune not
favoring, thinge« not witAowt highe consell and wisdom enter*
prised, have a very vnlucky ende ; and contraiie thinge^ donne
temenisly, yf she favor, have right prosperous chaunce / exam-
ple, ' Sirenus persian, a Captain ' / What I speeke lyethe in
myne owen powre / but how so the things as I do, shall ende or
be taken, standethe in the pleafiur of fortune & y* kinge."
?^/f S^ (^c^/i/^-^J
186 ZXIII. HOW TO LEARN TO DIB.
Sauf with his wynges / the wynd softe & light
He betith / and cuttith their^ / by 2 the might 208
Of swiche stirynge / & foorth he fleeth his way ;
And tookne aftir ])at / no man see ther may. 210
(31)
or an arrow shot " Or as an arwe / shot out of a bowe, 211
from a bow.
Twynneth the eir / which pat continuelly
Agayn is closyd / fat man may nat knowe
Where fat it paste / no wight the way sy f
Bight so / syn fat y bom was / fare haue y 215
Continuelly ^ / y stynted for to be, » Anoon rigmes a.
And tokne of vertu / shewid noon in me. 217
(32)
** I am consumed in my wikkidnesse ; J^"J?„"J!S;pf »^i;
My hope is like a My u hopc is / as it Were a wolle-loke '^* "®^ ^
by the wind. Which the wynd / vp reisith* / for his lightnesse,
Or small foom / fat desparplid is, and broke ♦ wowe away a.
WM tempest / or as vfiih wynd waastith smoke, 222
Or as mynde of an oost / fat but a day
Abit / and aftir passith foorth his way. 224
(33)
Deaf 58] " ffor why my speeche is now in bittimesse, 226
And my wordes / been ful of sorwe & wo ;
My heart la Myu herto is pluuged deepe in heuynesse,
are dim. Myn yen been al dymme and dirke also.
Who may me grante / fat y may be so 229
Afl I was / whan y beautee hadde, & strengthe.
And had befom me / many a dayes^ lengthe, 231
s yeeres A.
(34)
" In wiche y the harm mighte han seen befom, 232
J)at now is on me faH / I yaf no charge
Of the good precious tyme / y haue it lorn ;
But as the worldly wynd / bleew in my barge,
ffoorth droof y ther-wM / and leet goon at large 236
* their A (the air). • with A.
^^ /\zn {A
XXIII, HOW TO LEARN TO DIB. 187
Al loos the brydil of concupiscence, i g»ve reim to
my last.
And ageyn vertu / made y resistence.^ 238
(35)
" My dayes I despente in vanitee ; 239
Noon heede y tooke of hem / but leet hem passe,
Nothyng considerynge hir precioustee.
But heeld my self free born as a wylde asse i held myself as
, free as a wild ass.
Of thaitirclap / insighte had no man lasse ; 243
I ouer blynd was / y nat sy ne dredde,
With what wo / deeth wolde haaste me to bedde. 245
(36)
" And now as fisshes been with hookes kaght, 246 lie«f 58, back]
And as fat briddes / been take in a snare,
Deth hath me hent / eschape may y naght ; b«' "o'' !>«»**»
has seizd me.
This vnwaar woful hour / me makith bare
Of my custumed ioie / and my welfare ; 250
The tyme is past / the tyme is goon for ay ;
No man reuoke / or calle ageyn it may. 252
(37)
" So short was not the^ tyme / fat is goon, »|>atA. 253
But y, of goostly lucres / & wynnj'^nges, ^ might have
, " " ^ boaght spiritual
Aughte^ haue in it purchaced many oon, »MigBteA. tiwsure, but
didn't.
Exceedynge in value / att eerthly thynges
Inconparablely / but to his wynges 257
The tyme hath take him / & no purueance
There-in made I / my soule to auance. 259
(38)
" Alias, I, caytif / for angwissh & sorwe, 260 Now i weep Mtter
tears.
My teeres trikelen / by my cheekes doun ;
No salt watir / me needith begge or borwe ;
* In margin, in a later hand : ** He lyvethe so moche the
easier, who to delightes was vsed neuer." At foot : ** Quod caret
altema requie, durabile non est.
What thing restethe not now & then amonge,
But still traveyleth, cannot endure longe."
Below, in another hand : ** Be ytt knowen ynto aii men by these
presentes that I, Wylliam Wyllon)[?]."
^^/1^3/?( .^^/'/^•'P
188
and moarn the
time I've loet.
[leftf 59]
Wh J did I pat
otr amendment?
Why didn't I
learn to die?
XXIIl. HOW TO LBARN TO DO.
Myn yen flowen now in greet foysown;
Alias / this is a sharp condasiotm, 264
Thogh y the tyme past / conpleyne & moume ;
ffor al my care / wole it nat retoume.^ ' 266
(39)
" my lord god / how laach and negligent^ 267
Haue y been / why haue I put in delay
And taryynge myn amendement)
Wher-to haue y dissumuled / welaway
Alias / 80 maoy a fair and gracious day 271
Haue y lo^t / & am^ from me goon & ronne, »beA.
])at mighte in hem / my soules helthe han wonne. 273
(40)
" Myn hertes woful waymentacions, 274
Who can hem telle / who can hem exp'esse 1
Now fallen on me accusacions
Wondirly thikke / of my wrogRt wikkidnesse.
In flesshly lust / and ydil bysynesse,
Leet y * my dayes / dryue foorth and slippe,
And nat was beten / with penances whippe.
(41)
" Why sette y so myn herte in Vanitee 1
0, why ne had y lemed for to die 1
Why was y nat ferd of goddes maugree 1
What eilid me / to bathe in swich folie 1
Why nadde reson / goten the maistrie 285
Of me / why ] for my spirit was rebel,
And list nat vndirstonde / to do wel. 287
^ At foot, in a later hand : ** Love ys the occupacyon or busi-
nes of ydell folkes, that have nothing eles to sette them selve
on werke with-aXle / Diogenes / Of wilde bestes, the backebyter
is the worse ; Of tame bestes, the flaterer / Dio[genes]. " At
side : ** Beneficium dando accepit, qui digno dedit,
Himself, bv geving, receyveth a benefiche.
"Who gevethe to a person worthie to have yt"
^ In margin, in a later hand : ** Diogenes being asked what
was the moost miserable things in this worlde, aonswered, ' An
aged man in extreme pouertiee / ' '' At foot : '' Yertnus and good
men, the lyvelye and true ymage of god / Diogenes."
278
« Ileet A.
280
281
^/r^/ls/1 (D^
XXIII. HOW TO LBARN TO DIB.
189
(42)
292
294
295
" 0, alle yee fat heere been present,
Yes }pai floure in Youthes lusty grennesse,
And seen / how deeth / his bowe hath for me bent,
And tyme couenable han / to redresse
\>at yowxe vnruly youthes wantonnesse
Offend id hath / considereth my miserie,
The stormy seson / folwith dayes merie.
(43)
" Let me be your ensaumple and your mirowr,
Lest ye slippe in-to my plyt miserable.
With God, despende of your youthe^ the floMr ; >daye« a.
If yee me folwe / in-to peril semblable,
Yee entre shuln / to god yee yow enable ; 299
In holy wirkes your tyme occupie,
And whyle it tyme is / vices mortifie. 301
(44)
H ** Alias, youthe / how art thow fro me slipt ! 302
0. god eteme / y vn-to thee conpleyne * whS^ bttT* ^ *"
The wrecchidnesses / in whiche^ y am dipt ;
Lost is my youthe / y smerte in euery veyne,
The gilt / \ai wroght hath my synful careyne.
O youthe / thy fresshcnesse and iolitee
Hatith thy soothes / be told vn-to ^ thee.*
(45)
" No lust had y to doon as y was taght,
Ther-of had y right ^ greet desdeyn & hokir ;* »ftaA.
* At foot, in a later hand : "11. Socrates being asked* *by
what meanes a man myght optaine an onnest name ^ fame, * To
be,' (\uod he, * A man in deede, as he desireth to be * / '*
At side : "2. Socrates. Nothing owght to be desired of god
in mennes prayers, but vnder this furme, and vriih thes wordes :
*Suche thinges as bee good for us,' wttAowte any further addy-
cioun." . . . "Socrates : The best sauce in the worlde for meats
is to be hungrye."
• At top, in a later hand : * 2. Hokir, Lothesome * . . .
At foot : " 8. Socrates said that soche as hadde well broken
themselves to yertuus living and temperate dyet, did perceyve
* 'Mked' is crost thro', 'demaunded' is written over it.
288 [leaf 60, bMk]
s to be told to A.
306
308
309
Ye who flouriih
in your youth.
ooniiider my
misery.
Let me be a
warning to yoa.
Do holy woi^
while you've
time.
My youth it lost
[leaf 60]
tl:^<^'^^-^^0
100
OoodeoanMl
I cartd no mort
for than an old
boot.
313
315
316
Now I'm In the
•nare of Death.'
The Disciple lays
'Repent; ask
men^, and you'll
hare it.
Deaf 60, back]
Turn to Ood,
and be saved.'
XXIII. HOW TO LBARN TO DIB.
Whan men conseillid wel / y herde it nagfit :
Nat 80 moche / as by an old boote or cokir
Sette y ther-by / in-to myn hertes lokir
Entre mighte / noon holsum disciplyne ;
No wil had y / to good conseil enclyne.
(46)
" Lord god, now / in a deep dych am y faH ;
In-to the snare of deeth / entred am y ;
Bet bad it been / than thus had it^ befaU, > it had thus a.
Neuere han be bom of my modres body,
But there-in han perisshid vttirly, 320
ffor y despente in pryde and in bobance
The tyme grantid^ me / to do penance." 'lent to a. 322
(47)
IT To which answerde the disciple tho :
" Lo / we die alle / and as watir we slyde
In-to the eerthe / which Jat neuere mo
Retowme shal / but on a sikir syde
We standen alle / for god nat wole hyde
His mercy fro man / whonso list it craue.
Be repentant / and mercy axe & haue.
(48)
" God haastith nat / the gilt of man to wreke,
But curteisly / abydith repentance. »Bhai8eyeandA.
Heere me now / what y shal to thee^ speke :
ffor fat thow hast offendid / do penance ; JetSn^tiTA**
Torne vn-to god / with hertes obeissance ; Z^^ *^ ^'^'
Axe him mercy / J?at* is al merciable, ♦ which a.
And saued shalt thow been / it^ is no fable." » this a. 336
& take of the same, bothe moche more pleasure aud lesse paynes,
then soche as, wtt^ all highe cure and diligence, did on every
syde make provision to have all thinges of pleasure. "
At side : ** Socrates. 14. As we do not put Images to making,
but onely to soche workemen of whome we se some not^mber of
Images well-favordly and minonly [?] made a-fore ; So sholde we
take vn[to] no persons ower frendeship, but soche as we perfectly
know to have tried [?] themselves faythefull and cervieeable
frende to other a-fore, to other folkes."
323
^ Ecoe, oflMies
morimur, &
3uaiii aque
ilabiinur in
terrain &d
327
329
330
^^UJ.A^M (Q^.k)
XXIII. HOW TO LEARN TO DIB.
(49)
IF Thymage of deeth answerde anoon to J)at : Jc^^iJ?
" How spekist thow, man / shal y me repente, 2r"*deb2"*'"
Shal y me tome / o man, ne seest thow nat, SeEeo me
eonu0rl«re ? '
Nonne vides
angustias&d
341
191
343
^Quemad-
modum p«r-
drix cum sub
vngoibus
Ne takist thow noon heede ne entente
Of dethes angwisshes / \ai me tormente
And oppressen / so greuously and sharpe
That y not what to do / or thynke or carpe.
(50)
" As a partrich / fat with the hawk* is hent
And streyned \fi\h his clees / so is agast
\>ai his lyf ny from him is goon and wente f mox diicer-
penda corn-
Eight SO / my wit is cleene fro me past, ^'J^Sltia ^*
And in my mynde / is ther no thoght ne cast ^^nmoS^'
Othir than serche a way / how deeth eschape ?SdiSr /
But y in veyn / ther-aftir looke and cape.^ i gap© a.
(51)
" Nat wole it be / for deeth me donn oppressith; 351
The twynnynge of my lyf* / ful bittir is,
]>ai hurtith me greuously / and distressith ;
fful holsum had it be^ / to me or this, » been a.
Penance^ han doon / for fat y wroghte amis 355
Whyles my tyme / was in his rypnesse,
fFor fat had been / the way of sikirnesse ; 357
(52)
" But he fat late / to penance him takith,
Whethir he verraily or feynyngly
Uepente / he noot / vncertain it him raakith
Wo is me / fat my lyf so synfuUy
I leJde / and to correcte it / lachitl y ;
Ageyn my soules helthe haue y werreied,
)>ai ior it haue no bettre purueied.
(53)
II " Alias, to longe hath be^ the taryynge
And the delay of my correccion !
• Alterd to * rePentaunce. ' Penance
^ Qui autem
tarde penitencie
8e committit /
dubitM erit /
quia neseit
vtruiB vere vel
ficte peniteat.
362
364
^ longa
iiimis protrac-
tacio emeiiita-
ctonis mee /
The supposed
dying man Mya
' My anguish is
so sharp, I know
not what to do.
My wits are gone.
Deaf 61]
Death crashes
me.
Woe is me that I
led a sinful life I
Too long liave I
put off
A.
?^/ys^(^f^/V^:^
192
unending.
ClMf 61. iMCk]
Alas, my gilt 1^
SO yean hare
Iloet
XXm. HOW TO LBABK TO DH.
A good purpos / withoute begynnyynge, KJP^i"-
Good wil / wtUouten operaciofl, incho«cio»e a^
Good promesse / and noon execuciofi, 369
ffoorth dryue ameudes / fro morwe to morwe,
And neuere doon / pat causith al^ my sorwe.^ i now a. 371
(54)
" morwe, morwe / thow haast me begilt ! 372
O / whethir this miserie / nat exceede
Al worldly wrecchidnesse / alias, my gilt !
Wei worthy is it / pat myn herte hleede, 375
And with angwissh and wo / me^ fostre & feede. »iiimA.
See how my dayes att* / am slipt me fro ; ♦ ny a.
Ineverwaa
vertaooa for a
day.
How I ehall be
•hamed at
Doomsday !
mmis
xxx". yeer of myn age / a-way been go.
(55)
" fful wrecchidly, god woot / y haue^ hem lost,
And al myn owne self / is it to wyte ; » i»aae i a.
So good a piler / was y neuere, or post
Vn-to my soule / as o day me delyte
In vertu / or aght wel to god me qwyte.
As pat y mighte haue doon or oghte ;
By aght y woot / y neuere af tir fat soghte.
(66)
" Lord god, how shamefully stande y shal
At the doom hefom thee and seintes att.
Where y shal arted be to rekne of al
That y doon haue & left / whom shal y call
To helpe me / o, how shal it befatt 1
My torment and my wo / me haaste and hye,
Hens for to / twynne / as blyue shal y dye.*
' In margin, by a later hand :
'* So[crate8] 21. No kinde of Lahore is a thing of shame,
But ydelnes evermore worthie of blame.
So[crates] 27. What ys a-bove owre reche,
We have no thing to do witA all.'
**So[crates] 28. This silver plate, and riche araye
Of purple hewe, dothe wonderous well
For desgnising in a stage playe ;
Owr lylf nedethe them not a dele / "
' Later scribble in margin : ** Thomas, Pardy, I sayd yt not . .
P . Pr . . r r r . . prynm) . . nng . . d . . Thomas &c."
378
379
383
385
386
390
392
At foot
longa
^»4cc/^JA/ (^^.K
)
XXIII. HOW TO LEARN TO DI8.
(57)
** now this hour / gretter^ ioie & gladnesse 393
I wolde haue of a litil orisoon » day mow a.
By me seyd / with hertes deuout sadnesse,
As the angeljk* salutacioun f .
Than j wolde haue / of many a miliown 397
Of gold and siluer / foule haue y me born,
And synfully / fat sy nat this befom. 399
(58)
" Whan y mighte haue it seen / than wolde y noght ;
How many houres haue y lost / fat neuere 401
Eetorne shuln / how mochil haue y wroght
Ageyn my self / my lust was to p<5rseuere
In vicious lyf / & from it nat disseuere ;
I lefte fat good was, & necessarie
Vn-to my soule / and dide the contrarie.
(59)
** More than was neede or expedient,
Vn-to the help of many an othir wight
Entendid y / y was ful inprudent ;
I tooke noon heede / to my self aright ;
By soules profyt / sette y nat but light ;
Whan tyme was / fynde kowde y no tyme.
Me to correcte / of myn offense and cry me. ^
(60)
193
404
406
407
411
413
But now feele y / fat vn-to the gretnesse
Of merites celestial / had been bet 31)Jnoui"qiI^
My wittes han kept / vfith soules clennesse, db^^pimi-
Than bat left / wtt^ herte corruptly set, michi contuiiset
solidta custodia
And ageyn deedes vertuous y-whet / 418 cordis &c*
Helpe me mighte / any mannes preyere,
Thogh .XXX**. yeer / he preid had for me heere. 420
' At foot, in a later hand : *'So[crates] 30. Who-so eatethe
drie breade with pleasase, the same nedethe no meate to hit ;
and to whome no maner of drinke comethe a-misse, the same
reqnireth none other cuppe bnt soche as ys redye in the waye."
HOOCLEVE, M. P. — II. O
[leaf 62]
I'd rather now
haTe laid one
prayer
than ovm milliona
of money.
I followd Tice,
and left vertae.
I helpt otbera.
not myself.
414 Deaf 62, back]
I ooght to have
cared for holy
thing!,
and kept pare.
^'^JJt^^ il^<^"f^\)
194
ZZnL HOV TO LBABN TO DIB.
(61)
H " 0, herkneth now / herkneth now alle yee
Jjat heere been / and seen my wrecchidnesse !
The tyme as \a\» yee seen /now faillith me ;
I begd my ftiendi My freendes preide y / bat they sum almesse
to give me some *i i w j
of their good Of thabundance of hir goostly richesse
And wirkes goode / wolden to me dele
III my greet neede / for my soules hele ;
(62)
** And eeke in releef and amendement
but they said No. Of my giltes / but hire answer was * nay * ;
They seiden, * ther-to yeuen oure assent,
Wole we nat in no maneere^ way >roan«reofA.
Lest it vs and yow nat souffyse may.'
On euery part / thus am y destitut ;
ffynde can y no socour ne refut.^
421
425
427
428
I am destitute.
432
434
Deares]
Ood, have
mercy on me!
(63)
IF " god benigne / o fadir merciable,'
Beholde and reewe vp-on thy pacient I
To me, thyn handwerke / be thow socourable !
Jjat y greetly haue erred and mis-went,
Me wel remembrith this tyme present.
Alias / why stood y in myn owne light
So foule / 0. lord, me now* helpe of thy might !
♦ now me
435
439
441
' At foot, in a later haud : **So[crates] 35. Scyence and con-
nynge is the onely good thing of the world ; and contrarye-
wyse, ignorance the onely evell thinge / "
* 111 later hands, at top : "0 god benigne, o fader merciable.
. . Oratio."
At side : ** Thomas hecker haue Eed ait Thys boke . so haue
now haue [? MS. som] of my filos done . . Thomas hecker haue
Red ait This boke. soo haue nott, haue not, haue of of. Herro
... of Repentance with any good deed /
So[crates] 38. The begynninge ys half of the wholle.
44. Cffilum non animum mutat, qui trans maie currit.
Who runneth oversee ffrom place to place,
Though he change aire, his minde is as yt was / "
^£^. ASM (j9^
K)
I might have
gatherd heavenly
treasure, bat
didn't.
Now, I can get
no crumb,
XZIII. HOW TO LEARN TO DIB. 195
(64)
" How grete richesses spirituel 442
And heuenely tresors / had y been wys,
Mighte y han gadered / and nat dide a del.
good lord god / o lord of paradys,
fful leef to me now were / and of greet prys 446
Of satisfacciown / the leeste deede
Eigtit dereworthe / were it in this neede. 448
(65)
" / now the leeste crom7Mes / fat ther faH 449
ffro the lordes hordes / and tables doun,
Refresshe wolden me ful wel witZf-aH,
But noon fynde y / of swich condicioMn
)>a\i yeue me wole any porciown. 453
Y haue espyd / the frendshipe is ful streit
Of this world / it is mirour of deceit. 455
(66)
IF " Reewe eek on me, yee aH / and pi tee haue ! 456 Deaf cs, back]
And whyles your force and vigoz^r may laste,
And tyme han eeke / or yee be ny your graue,
In-to hemes of heuene gadereth faste
Tresors celestial / fat at the^ laste utteA. 460
Yee may receyue / whan fat yee shul twynne
ffrom hens / the blisse fat shal neuere blynne. 462
(67)
" And beeth nat voide of vertu, ne empty, 463
Whan fat the deeth / an othir day to yow
Approche shal / as yee may see fat y
Am voide of deedes vertuous right now."
IF " ffreend," qwo(i the disciple / " y see wel ynow 467 The Diwipie
Thy torment and thy greuous passiown,
Of which / myn herte hath greet conpassiown ; 469
(68)
" And by almighty god / I thee coniure 470
)3at thow me yeue reed / how me to gye,
Lest fat heere-aftir / y,^ par auenture, » i i«eer aftir a.
O 2
Do yon all, while
your strength
laste, gather
heavenly
treasure.'
asks for advice
^a/'f^o {f<i:/V?:i
196 XZUI. HOW to LBARir TO DIB.
how to ftToid tha In-to Ivktf peril / haaste may and hve,
peril of death, ^ r i j j-»
nnprepuwd. Of vndisposid sodein deeth / and drje 474
The wo / which y considers / ))at thee vexith,
wherthurgh / myn hcrte sore agrysid wexith/'^ 476
(69)
[leaf 64] IF Than spak thymage / " the best puraeance, 477
The rapposed a j 'j. • i v j • •
dying numwiyi And Wit 18 / ban verKiy contncioun
^**"'' In strengthe & hele / of the mis-gouemanee
confess your aim. Of thy lyf / and plcner confessioun
do amende for y ^ i
them, and give Make of thy gilt / and satisfacciot^n, 481
up vice.
And asseeth do / and afi vices leue
])at thee mighten the blisse of heuene reue.^ 483
(70)
Behave a« if you « And 80 / witli al thyn herte / it is^ the beste. 484
were to die to- / ^ i f
day. Keepe thee foorth / as fat thow this day right, »i»itA.
Or to-morwe / ot this wike atte* fertheste, « at the a.
Sholdist departe fro this worldes light,
And ther-wtt^-al / enforce thow thy might, 488
As y shal seyn / in thyn herte to thynke,
And thow shalt it nat reewe ne forthynke. 490
(71)
Suppose your soul " Caste in thyn herte / as now thy soule were 491
has been 10 years
in Purgatory, In puTgatoiie / and hadde pyned be
•X. yeer in a foumeys brennynge there.
And this oonly yeer were grantid thee
ffor thyn help / so beholde often & see 495
and it is crying Thy soule / in the flaumbes of fyr brennynge,
to you
With a wrecchid vois / thus to thee cryynge : ^ 497
^ At foot, in a later hand : " Socrates exorted yung cipringalkx, now and then
emestely to veu and behold themselves in a glasse, to the ende — yf theye were
beautifull and of good feactur of body — they shold beware to commyt nothing
vncomly for the same / yf otherwise, that the defantes of the body myght, with
exercyse or furniture of the wytte, & with honnest^ of maners & behaveur, be
redoubed."
^ That heuenes blisse mighten thee byreue A. At right side, later : * Cumber
youre * ; at left side, * R B A.'
^ At foot, later : ** Non uiuas ut edas ; sed edas, ut uiuere possis.
Lyue not as a glutton, styll for to eate.
But fede to maintayne lyfe by thie meate."
?i,r^.AS.n r-S-.- ^3
XZIII. HOW TO LEARN TO !»■. 1S7
(72)
Hf " Of alle freendes / thow, the derwortheste, J^<*^ ^3!" ^**^ **• ***^^
Do to thy wrecchid soule help and socour, ^rlnS**™'
))at is al desolat / purchace it reste.
See how y brenne / o, reewe on my langour ;
Be for me so freendly a purueyour, 502
J)at in this hoot prison / y no lengero '<> «»cue it.
Tormentid be / lat it nat thus me dere ! 504
(73)
" The worldes fauowr / deene is fro me went ; 505
fforsake y am / frendshipe y can noon fynde ;
Ther is no wight / fat to the indigent JdSSitei oil
Puttith his helply hand / slipt out of mynde ^i qi mMwai
I am / in peynes sharpe y walwe & wyude ; SjenS&d it i" sharp pain.
And of my wo / ther is no wight J?at recchith ;
Nat knowe y frendshipe / or to whom it strecchith. 511
(74)
"Men seeken thynges / Jjat to hem self longe, f siiig^n qn«
And me leuen in the flaumbes vengeable. S"vitricib«r*
good freend / lat me nat thus pyne longe ! " Stem de?Si^- l«* ^t «<>* »«*'
% To which the disciple, with cheere stable
Seide / **thy lore were profitable, 516 The Diwipie ap-
proves this,
Who-so it hadde by experience
As thow haast / ther-to yeue y may credence ;^ 518
(75)
" But thogh thy wordes sharpe & stirynge seeme, 519 [leaf 65]
To many a man / prof yten they but lyte : *>"' *»y» that
^ / r J J J ^ many men talte
They looke a-part / and list take no yeeme no thought of
•^ '^ ' ^ their end,
Vn-to the ende / which mighte hem profyte.
Yen they haan / and seen nat worth a myte ; 523
^ At foot, in a later hand, ** Ouidius de Ponto :
"While fortune the favorethe, frendc* thow hast plentye ;
The tym© being troublons, thow arte att alone :
Thow seest Culvers haunt, howses made white k. daintye ;
To the ruynus towre, almoost comethe none /
In emptie barnes, where feiylethe substaunce,
Happenethe no f^nde in whome is assurance."
?^^/y3'» {^c/¥:^^)
198
XXIII. HOW TO LBARN TO DIB.
bat they'll
haTe oause to
fear.
When sickness
comes to them.
their friends say
they'll not die;
[leaf 65, back]
but they perish,
unprepared.
525
526
530
532
And ores han also / and mt^ nat lieerd ;
They weenen longe for to lyuen heer^.
(76)
" And for they, vndisposid deeth nat dreede,^
fforsigfite at al / ne haau tho wrecches noon
Of the harm / which ther-of moot folwe neede,
They deemen stonde as sikir as a stoon ;
But weel y see / by thee / so moot y goon,
They shuln haan cause / it for to dreede & doute.
Or fat hir lyues light / be fully oute.
(77)
" Whan dethes messager comth / sharp seeknesse, 533
ffreendes and felawes hem haaste & hye,
The seeke man to conforte of his feblesse.
And al thyng fat good is / they prophecie ; 536
They seyn / " thogh thow seeke in thy bed now lye.
Be nat agast / no dethes euel haast thow,
flfor this / thow shalt eschape wel ynow."^
(78)
" Thus bodyes freendes been maad enemys
To the soule / for whyl seeknesse greeueth
The man continuelly / yit so vnwys
Is he / fat his enformours he wel leeueth ;
He hopith to been hool / and he mischeeueth
where as he wende han recouered be ;
Vndisposid to dye / sterueth he.
(79)
IT " Eight so thyn herkners and thyn Auditours,
Tho fat greet trust han in mannes prudence,
Nat list hir peynes putte, or hir labours,
^ Later scribble at side : "Hund . . nb . . . Thomas . . .
. . . Thomas." (For * vndisposed deeth' see 200/590).
' At foot, in a later hand, "Martialis, lib. 12 :
Yf thow wilt eschew Bytter aduenture,
And avoyde the knawinge of a pensive harte,
Sette in no one persouTie wholly thie pleasure,
The lesse shalt tnowe yoye, but lesse shalt thaxk smarte /
539
540
544
546
547
Ch
)>UJ. Azn (Q^,U)
XXIII. HOW TO LEARN TO DIE.
To execute thyn holsum sentence ;
Thow migfitist as wel keepe thy silence ; 551
They hy thy wordes yeuen nat a leeke."
IF To which, thymase thus answerde & speeke : ir idciroo /
" *^ cumlaqiteo
/Q/\\ morti* capti
VO v; fiierint / com
*' flfor thy, whan they in dethes net been hent, pentinacaia.
•^ ' '' ' mitas, & in-
Whan sodein wrecchidnesse hem shal assaill, jJ^SjJ^g**'
Whan deeth, as tempest sharp & violent, ii»«ruerit&tf
With wof ul trouble hem shal vexe & trauaiH,
They shuln crie aftir help / and ther-of faiH, 558
ffor they in hate / sapience hadde,
And despysed my reed / & heeld it badde.^ 560
(81)
"And right as now ther been but fewe fownde, 561
\>ai of my wordes conpunct wole hir lyf
Correcte / ne amende in no stownde,
Nat may to hem auaille my motyf*,
But they / hir synnes vsen ay foortb ryf*, 565
And ban no lust / fro synnes hem withdrawe,
No more / than they neuere had herd my sawe f 567
(82)
" Eight so for the malice of tyme / and lak* 568
Of goostly loue / and for the iniquitee
Of the world / vertu gooth so faste a-bak»,
Jjat fewe to the deeth disposid be
So weel / })at list this worldes vanitee 572
Leue / and for desir of lyf / fat shal euere
Endure / coueiten hens to disseucre. 574
(83)
" But whan deeth on hem stelith with hir darte, 575
They vnreedy / wowndid in conscience,
Nat oonly goon hens / whan they hens departe /
^ At foot, in a later hand : "In tyme of prosperitie, a man
shali not knowe his fteuAes, and in aduersitie an ennemye wiit
not be hidde." '* Yf thow be ashamed to speeke eveli, be more
ashamed to doe the same."
199
The dying man
says that wlien
they C17 for help,
they shan't get it.
[leaf 66]
Men will not
amend thefr liyes
by hii words.
or give up the
vanities of tlie
world ;
so that when
Death comes.
?^ /y 5^ (?C/^:i^^
200
xnn. HOW TO LEJkmr to dis.
they're carried
off by iiorce.
But they with a manure of violence
Been hent away / 80 ^ ful greet prudence 579
They wolde han hold it / han deid as a man
And nat as a beest / ]>at no reson can.^ 581
(84)
CUar66,biick] ^ *' If of this commun peril, thencheson^ 582
Sir^^ectte "^^^^ ^y^® knowe / y wole it now expresse :
Tlie desir of honoenrs out of reson,
worldly pleasure, The body bathynge in worldly swetnesse,
andeoTetoumeta. ^ , , . . -
Eerthely loue / and to greet greedynesse 586
In muk^hepynge / blynden many an herte,
And causen men in-to tho perils sterte. 588
(85)
• " If fchow desire / the perils to flee 589
Of vndisposed deeth / my Conseil heera :
This heuy plyt / in which thow seest now me,
Eeuolue ofte in thy mynde / & by me leere
ffor to be waar / if thow in this maneere 593
Wilt do / it shal be thy greet auantage,
And ese thee at thy laste passage ; 595
(86)
Learn by me to
avoid this end.
" It shal vn-to thee profyte in fat hour,
])at nat oonly dye it shal nat thee gaste,
and And death
the beginning
of eternal blise.
Y Ex ea naaH
qiMproAcieA/
▼t non solum
naorl nonti-
But deeth / eek as eende of worldly labour, JJULTOruJi
And begynnynge of blisse / ay fat shal laste /
Abyde thow shalt / and desire faste
With al thyn heHe / it to take & receyue.
And al worldly lust leye a-part & weyue.
600
602
^ At foot, in a later hand :
" The good or evett fortune of ait a mans lyffe,
Ys in the good or evett chowsinge his frend or his wiffe. "
2 At top, in a later hand : "Woman cam of ayd of a doog
wherfor I beaech the to . . ." At side : ** W. Bamabe" . . "To
the right worshif^ull . . . maatet Hanna (?) . . He that hath"
. "Thomas Cart^."
?J^.ASM (S^.m)
XXIIL ROW TO LBARK TO DDL 301
(87)
** Euery day haue of me deep remembrance^ ; 603 [larfe?]
— , , . « 1 1 ReuMRiber my
In-to thyn nerte / let my wordes synke ;
The sorwe and angwissfi & grenoas penance grierous punish-
Which thow haast seen in me / considere / & tliynke
That of peril / thogh* art ful ny the brynke ; 607
Kemembre on my doom / for swich slial thyn be ;
Myn yifitirday / and this day vn-to thee. 609
(88)
** Looke vp-on me / & thynke on this nyght ay 610 and think how
Whyles thow lyuest / o how good & blessid
Art thow Arsenius^ / which fat alway
This ilke hour haddest in thyn herte impressid,
]>ai man / as in holy writ is witnessid, 614
Which whan god comth and knokkith at the yate,
Wakynge him f ynt / he blessid is algate ; cum veni4 dMii-
(89)
nui & pulsautfrit
Ad
Blessid is he ])at thanne founden is 617 biMsed is he who
Eeedy to passe / for he blissfully
Departe shal / and truste right wel this,
Thogh deeth assaiH and vexe greuously
The rightwys man* / or slee him sodeynly, 621
How so he dye / he shal go to* fat place ^ SJJS^^SJJJJJ'a^^
Where-as confort is / refresshynge & grace. 623
(90)
He shal be pourged cleene & purified, 624 [leaf e?, back]
And disposid the glorie of god to see ;
Angels shuln keepe him / & he shal be gyed
' Latin sciibble at top and sides : '* wo . . woman, man sent
woman . . Father and mother . . w . . sir lohn) . . th . . the
Father . . A Thowsand, a hiindreth, fyve and fyfty / I Love /
. . . voman mast . . Vm . . women" . . **Pardye, I sayd yt
not/ nor never yt Intended /" . . ** Barnard" (?) . . "Choos
and Crave not, qt«>d Carter."
* for "thow." ' Arcenios A.
* The good lynei* A. * he gooth vn-to A.
^.aj^^O (p(L/^zriS\
202
and go to tht
Court of HMTen,
to eternal bliss.
But where shall
my wretched
•oolgo?
I shed tears.
but in rain.
[leaf 68]
God, I can
speak no more :
I shall die
at once.
XXIIL HOW TO LEARN TO DIB.
And led by Citeins of the hy Contree,
And to the Court of heuene vp taken be ; 628
And of his spirit / shal be the issynge,
In-to eternel blisse / the entrynge.^ 630
(91)
But alias / where shal my wrecchid goost ^JSS^^IIi'K
This nyght become / whidir shal it go %
What herbergh shal it haue / or in what coost
Shal it arry ue / who shal receyue it / who 1
0! what frendshipe / shal it haue tho 1 635
soule abiect / desolat & forsake,
Greet cause haast thow / for fere & wo to qwake. 637
(92)
" Wherfore y, hauynge of my self pitee, 638
Amonges heuj*^ wordes / y out shede
Teres / in greet habundance & plentee \
But nat auaillith me / it is no drede.
Hens-foorth compleyne / weepe^ & crye & grede, 642
fFor in no wyse / changed it l>e may ;
Al man-kyndes fo / stoppid hath my way. 644
(93)
** In hidles, in awayt as a Leoun^ 646
He hath leyn / & my soule led hath he
In-to the pit of deeth al deepe adoun.
my lord god / this sharp aduersitee,
To jtynte of speeche / now conpellith me : 649
y may no more hens-foorth / speke & bewaiH,
My tonge and eeke my wit / now so* me faiH. 651
(94)
" Ther is noon othir / y see wel ynow 652
The tyme is come / as blyue y shal be deed ;
^ Later scribble at side : **he shal be . . H. 5, 3."
' weepe and compleyne A.
' Later scribble at side : **Gefferye thirgoocJ . . Ryght . .
gefferye thir . . put to..pppppppp.. put to . to the sayd
gefferyth de vez . . th . . . d d d. " * so now A.
?^^- AIM C^^.x)
XXIIL HOW TO LEARN TO DIE. 203
See how my face wexith pale now,
And my look ful dym / &^ heuy as leed ;
Myn yen synke eeke / deepe in-to myn heed, 656
And tome vp so doun / and myn hondes two
Wexen al stif and starke / & may nat do ; 658
(95)
" Prikkynges of death me, wrecche, conpace ; J^U*^iI5i"r-
Stirtemeel gooth my pows^ / and elles nagfit ; dJiJSiSmt My pake beau
Mortel pressures / sharply me menace, ^
My hreeth begynneth fain / and eeke the draght
Of it fro fer is fet / & deepe caght ; 663
No lengere y now see this worldes light ; my eyes fait
Myn yen lost han hir office <fe might. 665
(96)
" But now y see "with myn yen mentaP 666 peaf es, back]
Thestat of al* an-othir world than this ;
I am ny goon / as f aste passe y shal ;
my lord god / a gastful sighte it is !
Now of confort haue y greet lak* & mis ; 670 i have no com tort.
Horrible feendes and innumerable
Awayte vp-on^ my soule miserable ;* 672
(97)
" The blake-faced ethiopiens 673 BUck Ethiop*
snrroand me.
Me enuyrone / and aftir it abyde
To hente it / whan fat it shal passen hens,
If fat par auentwre it so betyde
pat the lot ther-of / faH vp-on hir syde ; 677
hir viserly7faces, grim & hydous,
Me putte in thoghtful dreedes encombrous. 679
^ dun my look and as A.
* pons A ; powr D.
• Later pencil writing at top : "Thomas Wylton) of k3rrke
Landes whare I doo moste humbly Bygge [?] that (If. 69, top)
this By 11 mayd the iiij*^ daye of may in) ye yer*."
* al of A. * Awayten on A.
• The Ashbumham MS ends. ' grisly Reg.
ZA/^lO (^.C/j/^x
204
XXIII. HOW TO LBARN TO BIE.
(98)
The itern Judge
condemn! me.
[I weyeet me R.]
L« eVe Reg.J
Kiibito ventunis
ltd
5 Nunc vfltete
Bocij hji . .
IT " streit and steeme luge & domesman, 680
Thow weyesi^moche / in deemynge me, wrecche,
Tho thynges whiche fewe folkes can
But smal by sette / or of hem charge or recche ;
Lo / deethes strooke haastith me hens to fecche ; 684
My membreSyshee^sothirliih & distressith,
That nature ouercome is / shee witnessith. 686
(99)
peaf 09] '^ gastful is the iust luges lookynge ' 687
Vn-to me, now present / tliurgfi fere & dreede,
which sodeynly shal come / hiwi self sheewjnge.
Fareweu. friends! H ffar-wel, freendes & felawes / for neede JeSilTiSlifuudteii
Moot y vnclothe me of lyues weede ; JJ^ti^iS^T"''
To purgatoiie y shal as streight as lyne,
ffor myn offenses / ther to suffre pyne ;
(100)
" And thens twynne y nat / til maad haue y gree 694
Of the leeste ferthyng )wt y men shal ;
In whiche place y beholde and see
Aftiicciown and sorwe ynow at al ;
There y no ioie see, but wo oueral ;
The fyry flaumbes vp-on heighte ryse.
In which / tho sbules brenne in woodly wyse.
(101)
" They vp now possid been / & now doun thro we, 701
Right as sparcles of fyr / aboute sprede,
Whan fat a greet toun / set is on a lowe,
And al is fyred / bothe in lengthe & brede.
Wo been tho soules / in tho brondes rede, 705
ffor peyne of which torment / ful lowde & hye
They in this wyse / ful pitously crye : ^ 707
' Later scribble at side and foot : ** Richard Lyon . . god?
haue mercie vpon all Crysten sovlles . . and yf thou . . . knewes
I shall jgQ to
flery flamei.
698
700
where aouls in
torment cry
Thonu knewest
869
12". . 'hast'. . *hayll mygh
^^^W'. >4 S M
zxin. now to learx to dib.
205
(102
f " Now, mercy liaue on our captiuitee ; 708
To yow our freendes / namely we preye ; Judatto**"
Wher is your help now / wher is your chierteel giSSSE *
Whidir been the promesses goon to pleye MiMremini
mei/mi8«re-
Of yow, our Cousins eeke / can yee portreye "»[»» ^^
amid mei,
vbi et f nnno
amioontM
adiutoriuw ?
vbi aunt pro-
missionea
bone Consan-
guineomiM
ineorwm Ad
Ctoaf69,back]
for mercy,
[1 goeUy Baf .]
717
719
721
722
{* And other
foHcee Beg.]
and are ftill
of woe.
They reproach
their frieada
for not helj^ng
them.
Your wordes so gayly^/ and effect noon
ffolwith / but al as deed is as a stoon ?
(103)
'* By youre desires inordinat.
And eeke of othir^ mo/ our self han we
Broght in-to this plyt and wrecchid estat ;
loie han we noon / but of wo greet plentee.
Alias / why nat vp-on vs reewen yee 1
We dide al our might / to do yow plesance ;
And yee no routhe han / on our sharp greuance.
(104)
" fful euele we rewarded been of yow ;
We brenne / and yee the fyr nat qwenche a deel.
Alias ! we nadden for our self or now
Y-doon / we were auysid no thyng wed ;
Worldly trust is / as slipir as an eel ;
Al is nat trewe / pat the world pr(?mettith ;
fful wys is he / pat ther-by litil settith.^
(105)
" The leeste torment of this purgatorie
\)fii we souffren / exceedith in sharpnesse
Tormcntes all of the* world transitorie.
If eere, of torment / more is the bittimesse
In an hour / then the world es wikkidnesse
May hurte or greeue in an .C.^yeer :
Greet is tbafflicciouw pat we han beer.
' Later scribble at side (repeated from leaf 61, p. 192 n. above) :
" No kinde of labore is a tbinge of shame,
but idelnes evermore worthi of blame.
love is the occuppacion or busines of idle Folkes, that haue no thinge
ells to sett themselves & worke wttA-ali/' In the beginning.
726
728
729
[leaf 70]
Their tormenca
are moat bitter.
r« this Reg.]
733
735
[s hundred Reg.]
^A/*^3>0 (^C/^Z\J
206 ZZIII. HOT TO LBABN TO DIB.
(106)
" But aboue alle kyndes of tonnentis, 736
God't &oe they Of goddes blissid face the absence
never Bee.
Greeueth most / fat lak", our moost ^ wofuti sentis : ^
C'-»Reg.i7DTi.] ifQy a memorie / leue y this sentence
To thee / and heere y die in thy presence." 740
The Disciple sees % Whan the disciijle sy bat he was past
the man is dead. i J r r
And deed / he tremblid and was sore agast ; 742
(107)
Aboute he torned him / and thus seide he : 743
He appeals to if " WhcF art thow uow / o sapicnce etemel
Wisdom for help. ' ^
/ good lord, haast thow now forsaken me 1
Wilt thow thy grace me denye and weme 1
Thow seidest / * sapience y sholde leme ; ' 747
And now y am broght to the deeth almoost,
So troublid is my spirit & my goost. 749
(108)
[lea^ 70, back] " This sighte of dccth so sore me astoneth, 750
The sight of death t^ . •. j.r • jvj; ^
pat wite y can vnnethe m soothfastnesse,
But am in doute / wher the soothe woneth,
That is to meene / if this be in liknesse
has mazed him. Or in dccdc / swich is my mazidnesse ; 754
But how it be / lord, y byseeche thee,
Be my confort in this perplexitee 1 756
(109)
lu perils " Neuere the perils of deeth vndisposid 757
p self iteg.] In my lyf^ kneew I, as y do now right ;
have sunk into Withyu myu hcrtc been they deepe enclosid,
his heart.
And SO sadly / ther-in picchid and pight,
J5«t hem foryete / lyth nat in my myght. 761
That gastful sighte / y hope shal profyt^
Vn-to my soules helthe / nat a lyte. 763
._. (110)
pi^^hlue"^"^* ^ "Dwellynge place / y haue espyd, and see,
we here Reg.] Han we noon^ / in this wrecchid world changeable.
'^UJl. ASM (S^.u)
XXIIL HOW TO LEARN TO DIE.
ffor why / vn-to fab blisful hy contree
which nat may varie / but is permanable,
Shape y me streeche / o lord god merciable, 768
Y mercy axe / vp-on me, wrecche, reewe !
Hens foiward / wole y lede a lyf al ueewe. 770
(111)
" Kow lerne tor to die / y me purpose ; 771
Hens-foorth / penance wole y nat delaye ;
My lyf to amende wole y me dispose ;
iFor syn thoghtes of deetfe / so me esmaye /
Wei more y am sour / deeth me shal afEraye 775
Whan Jjat eschue / y shal nat hir presence ;
0, ther thyn help / eterne sapience !^ 777
(112)
" Now wole y voide fethirbeddes softe, 778
The pilwes nesshe / and esy materas
On whiche my careyne / hath tymes ofte
Walkid and leyn / now stande I in swich cas
Jjat me thynkith / al greet folie it was. 782
Of clothynge eeke, fy on the precioustee,
And slouthe of sleep also lettynge me. 784
(113)
" Syn y tormentid am so greuously 785
With thynges smale / how sorwes so grete
Souffre mighte y, if now die sholde y,
\)ai neuere or this / my synnes kowde lete 1
0. what matire / of helle fyr / the hete
Mighte in me thanne fynde / certes greet,
ffor which / my body of cold swoot is al weet.
(114)
"Now woot I weel / what thyng fat may auaiH
My soule / and it keepe fro perisshynge :
By soufi&ance of greet labour & trauaiH,
And exercyse of vertuous lyuynge,
^ Later scribble in margin : ** sapience . . presence . . softe.
207
789
791
He prays for
God's mercy.
[leaf 71]
and promises to
learn how to die,
by repentance
and amendment.
He will give up
feather beds
and choice
clothes.
792 [leaf71,bacVJ
and will take
to labour and
▼irtuoos life.
^SSltf (^'^^'^'^'^^
308
Htfkllatothe
groBad,
and prays for
punishment
here
initead of here-
after.
Pear 72]
Tho' he has here-
tofore set his heart
on vain things.
he now fears
Death.
Wisdom bids Iiim
amend while
he is yoang,
XXIII. HOW TO LBARK TO DIl.
Wole y it helpe / left al taryynge, 796
\>ai in swich an houres extiemitee,
No peyne / but reste, fynde may shea 798
(115)
" holy and mercyf ul Sauueour, IS^rSSSTiSiuator.
Of so bitter death / souffre me nat dye, iTtAdw mTf'"
Thogh y be thikke wrappid in errour f
See / beforn thee / plat on tbe grownd y lye,
Weepynge / for myn excessyf folye ; 803
And, curteys lord / of thy bevignitee,
This grace vouche-sauf to grante me, 805
(116)
" Aftir thy lust / be my punysshement 806
Whyle y am heere / and, good lord, nat reserue
To othir place / the chastisement
Which J)at y, wrecche / heere in this world disserue !
let me abye it heere / or J)at y sterue, 810
fEor in fat place horrible / is swich sharpnesse
Of peyne / fat no wight can it expresse. 812
(117)
IF " how vnwys or this haue y been ay, 813
Syn fat deeth vndisposid and the peyne
Of purgatorie / y kowde by no way
Considere / ne how it kowde distreyne.
Set was myn herte in othir thoghtes veyne, 817
]>ai yaf me lettynge and impediment
To thynke vp-on the perils consequent ; 819
(118)
* But now, thurgh fadirly amonestynge, "Si^^^Z" SSSS*
My myndes yen fat cloos were and shit / *p*^*®»
I opne / and of tho perils am dredynge."
IF And sapience ansueerde anoon to it :
" My sone / to do so / it is greet wit, 824
Whiles thow yong art / & haast strengthe & force ;
Thy lyf for to correcte / thee enforce. 826
^-W ASM (^iU- M.)
XXIII. HOW TO LEARN TO DUB.
(119)
•* Whan fat deeth cometh / which cruel and fel is, 827
Whom thow nat maist withstonde ne withsitte /
Help ne refuyt / is ther for thee noon ellis /
But to the mercy of god / thee committe,
By no way / pat nat leue ne ommitte ; 831
My passioun putte eeke / twixt my doom & thee,
Lest more than neede is / adrad thow be. 833
209
uid betake him ta>
God'i mercy.
(120)
** My rightwisnesse nat so mochil dreede
pat thow fro trust and hope of mercy twynne ;
Contrytly mercy axe / and thow shalt speede.
Now restf ullere in thy goost be withynne,
j)at ouer ferd art / thee pourge of thy synne,
Scourge thy self / with repentances rod ;
Begynnynge of wisdam / is dreede of god.
8^34 PeafTS^bAckl
838
The fear of God
ia the beginning
840 of wisdom.
(121)
IT " Scriptures serche / & by hem shalt thow leere 841
pat yn-to man is it greet auantage,
Deeth to haue ofte in mynde, in this lyf heere. 843
If yeeres manye / and vn-to good age LL^JIHlJius^^x'
Man lyue / and in aH hem glad & sauage 7mn\h!iThil» * tl«
T»/ •I'x-ij-i'i oj Ml fu«rit / memlniwe
Be / SLOod IS, the dirke hour & dayes wikke debet tenebroei
Eemembre / or fat he come to the prikke ;
Let him remem-
ber Death in
Ume,
(122)
" £Eor whan pat tyme is comen, and fat hour, 848
Bepreeued shal be the past vanitee ;
Kemembre therfore on thy Creatour
In thy fressh youthe & lusty iolitee,
Or tyme come of sharp aduersitee, 852
And or pat yeeres approche of disese.
In whiche thow wilt seyn / they nat thee plese. 854
HOCCLEVB, M.P. — 11. P
and his Creator
in liie youttu
?^jY£^ (f^/V^:^^
sio
XXm. HOW TO LBAlUr TO DIIL
D«if7f1
855
The W17 of Md-
Tatioo is open.
FewUiijikor
of tlMworid,
859
861
862
and tlM«ver«
Ustingjojof
(123)
Andy or asshen in-to hir eerthe also^
Whene-of tbej were / agejn hem tiiidir dresse.
And thy spirit to god / whens it cam fro
Betotfme / god, with al thyn herte blisse.
Thanks him / shewe vn-to him thy kyndenesse ;
ffor he to thee now opned hath the way
Wherthurgfi thow maist be saaed, is no nay.
(124)
** ff al f ewe been / pat so with hertes ere,
Konne apparceyue thinstabilitee
Of the world / and konne of the deeth ban fere,
Which pat alway lyth in awayt pryuee,
Ne pat of the ioie and felicitee
Of henene / which ay shal laste & endure.
Take any manere heede at al / or cure.
(125)
H " Lifte vp thyn yen^ / looke abonte & see
Diligently / how many folkes blynde p ms. then]
In hir conceites now a dayes be ;
They close & shitte the yen of hir myndc ;
They nat keepe, in hir conceit serche & fynde
Vn-to what ende / needes they shuln drawe,
And al for lak of dreede of god, and awe.
(126)
** They stoppe hire eres / for they nat ne keepe
Heere how conuerted be / and receyue he! the ;
Correccion is noon / they let it sleepe ;
They been so dronken of this worldes welthe.
That deeth, or they be waar / right in a stelthe
ffallith up-on hem / which condiciown
Hem cause shal hastyf perdicioun.
^ Later scribble at top and side, with monograms or figures: "(?) Saued
Edmedye . . now must I die, and have not deferred . . Harrison late ffr . . . To
my approved ffrende m*" Geaven (0 ... try and then trust, quod bodytt . . peace
and Grace be with yow, frome god the father for euer and euer . . W. W . . .
866
868
869
Tbey shat the
eyes of their
mind.
[leaf7S,baclc]
873
875
876
and are drunk
with this world's
wealth.
But Death shall
bring them to
perdition.
880
882
W
n.
ft
>J^. ASM O^.k)
XXm. HOW TO LBABN TO DIB. 211
(127)
" The peple now let seen innumerable 883
Jpat for deeth vndisposid / lost han be /
Considere / and if tby wit be ther-to able /
Noumbre of hir multitude the plan tee see how many
have died diirinf?
Eeke of hem fat in thy tyme wtt^ thee 887 your own ute,
Dwelt han / looke how fat they been take away :
Thow seest wel / they from hens been past for ay ; 889
(128)
" And as they heere han do / so shuln they haue. 890
What multitude in yeeres fewe ago,
Thee yit lyuynge / han leid been in hir graue !
What brethren / Cousins / felawes and mo brothtn, com-
panions, &c.
Of thy knowleche / beholde alle tho ! 894
Thyne eeke, with hem / hire olde synne goon is ;
Touche vn-to hem / speke and axe hem of this, 896
(129)
*' And they with wepynge and wt't/i waymentynge 897 peaf 74]
Shuln to thee seye / and thus ageyn answere :
* Blessid is he / fat can see the endynge,
And synnes / fat the soule hurte & dere,^
Eschue can / and hem flee and forbere ; * 901
And fat in my Conseil hath good sauour,
Disposynge him alway vn-to fat hour. 903
(130)
" And therfore / alle vicious thynges left, 904 Therefore prepare
Weel thee dispose / and reedy make thee
To dye / lest the tyme be thee reft
Or fat thow be waar / for no certeintee
Haast thow ther-of / thow art no thyng pryuee 908
Ther-to / deeth is nat fer / right atte yate
Shee is / be reedy for to dye algate ! 910
^ In margin, later: "John Jarlin, he Elizabethe his welle-
belovinde Wiff'e, dme." At foot: "Ryghte wellbeloued father
and mother."
P 8
to die.
ftf/^3« (^(L/^^i-aA
113 ZXm. HOW TO UUB9 TO DDL
(131)
% ** Bight as a Maidiaiit stondjnge in a port, 911
his ship ^ot charged is with maiehaiidjBe
To go to f er parties / for conf ort
Of him self / looke^ / ya% it in saaf wyse
LdokwtojMT Passe out / £ig^ so, if tiion wirice as the wyse, 915
go how*. See to thy soale 90 I or thow hens weende,
tltft jam wmj
gate life «Tcr- J)at it may han the lyf ]Kzt haath nocm eende. 917
Amen:"
IT CxpUdt ilU par0 / per i|n2rai edtabnm t0t moti
(132)
naif74kkMk] rilbe othir .iij. partes which in this booke 918
J;j.JJ^J^ X Of the tretice of deeth expressid be,
Touche y nat dar / Jiot labour y forsookc,
I'm t4w gnat ffor 80 greet thyng / to swich a fool as me
ft foal
Oner chargeable is, by my leautee, 922
To medle wttA / ynow the firste part
fibr my smal konnynge is / and symple art ; 924
(133)
But as the .ix? lesson whidi is rad 925
In holy chirche / vp-on all halwen day
witnessith / syn it ioiefol is and glad
ffor hem \a\, hens shuln wel departe away,
And to the blisse go )»at lastith ay, 929
toengiuhifirTnic, Translate wole y / nat in rym, but prose,
proM, ffor so it best is / as \a\, y suppose, 931
(134)
•nd uxL of tiM How greet ioie and blisse / is sliapen to hem 932
hcavenij dt> pat SO shuln psssc hcns / vp to toe Citee
Callid celestial, lerusalem.
Aftir our might and possibilitee
Let vs considere / al thogh it so be, 936
That for to comprehende \ai gladnesse,
Yerraily / no wit may, ne tonge expresse. 938
JeriHMleni.
>J^. A%h (S),
t%
XXm. THB JOTS OF HEAVEN. 1/ 213
0, thus is seid of fat Citee in a place / Therein pi«if75]
, , , 1. i. No •orrow is
is no sorwe / neuynesse ne waymentynge. what there, or waiung,
is more blisful / than J)at lyf is / whew no
dreede is of pouerte / of maladie / no feeblenesse /
ther^ is no wigfit hurt / no wight wrooth / no wight
hath enuye / ther is no brennynge or hete of couetyse / no envy,
no desir of mete / noon ambicioun of honot^r or of
power / no dreede of the feend / noon awayte* of
deueles / the fere of hett / fer thens / no deeth of body noUwrof hen,
ne soule / but ioieful yiftes and iocounde of immor-
ialitee / there shal neuere be discord / stryf ne debat / no itrife;
but alle thynges conuenient and accordynge / no diui-
sion, but onhede / for ther shal been o concord of aH but unity,
seintes / o pees & gladnesse continuel / all thynges peace,
peisible / aH in quiete and reste / there is an excellent
brightnesse and sliynynge / nat this light / \a\, now is / brightneM.
but in so mocbil cleerere / as it is bettre and more
noble / for, as it is red / **fat Citee shal noon neede
haue of the sonnes light / but our lord god al-mighty o«d iJghte it.
shal enlumyne it " / & the lamb is his lanterne / where
as seintes shuln shyne as sterres in perpetuel eternitees /
and as the shynynge of the firmament ])at spredith his
hemes vp-on many men / wherfore in fat place is no
^nyght / no dirknesses / no concours of clowdes / no [< leaf 75, back]
fretynge cold / no sharpnesse / but swich attempei'ance ^ ^d'hut^jolf.*'*
of thynges shal be there / whiche neither ye of man ""'»»"'>^»w«J
neuere sy / ne ere herde / ne herte can thynke ne cow-
prehende / sauf of hem fat been worthy & han dis-
sented to haue fat blisse / whos names arn writen in
the booke of lyf/ <& whiche wasshid hir stoles in the ['robertas-
lambes blood / & been befom the See of god / and at side*] ^*
seme him day and nyght / noon age is there / ne
miserie or wrecchidnesse of age / whyles aH shul been no mieery,
o parfyt body, o parfyt man, in the mesure of the ful body in chrbt.
age of Cryst / \No break in MB^
H And abouen aH thynges / is to been associed to
•I
•I
2U
There Mk
compMij wltb
Angels,
and SainU,
and lee Martyn
[I leaf 76]
and Virgins.
The chief of all
joye li.
to see the bright-
neMOf God.
Win thii realm
by good worl».
The Kingdom
of HeaTen is
taken by assaults
ofVirtae.
?^/fS^^^,^^3J
It seeks no other
prize bat thee.
As Christ gare
Himself for thee,
[s leaf 76, back]
giTe thyself for
Him,
XXIU. THE>J0T8 OF BEATEN.
the conpaignies of the trones / dominacious / Principatz
& potestatz of Angels & Archangels / & to been in the
conpaignie of aH the celestial and hy vertues / & to
beholde the conpaignie of seintes, brighter^ & yeuynge
more light than the sterres / shynynge in the feith of
Patriarks / gladynge <& ioyynge in the hope of prophetes
deemynge the world of* apostles in .xij. tribes of Israel /
& to beholde eeke the shynynge* of martirs with pur-
purat coro^nes of victorie / and to see the conpaignies
of virgines werynge brighte gerlandes. [No break in
MS.]
11 And for to speke of the kyng fat sittith in the
niiddes of hem / no vois ther-to souffisith / it may nat
be told ne expressid / that honour / pat vertu / fat
magnificence and fat glorie exceedith and passith att
wittes & intellectes of man / and passynge ait the
seintes ioies / is to beholde the inestimable brightnesse
of fat kyng / & to be spred vrith the hemes of his
magestee / let thise thynges sadly synke in-to oure
hertes / let vs vnderstande hem with ful feith / let hem
be beloued wit^ alle oure hertes / let hem be goten by
the greetnesse and by the multitude of goode wirkes
and continuel / this thyng* is put in the might of the
wirkere / for the kyngdam of heuene souffrith forcible
and mighty assautes of vertu. [No break in the MS,]
U man / this thyng / fat is to seyn, the kyngdam
of heuene, seekith noon othir prys / but thyn owne
self / it is as mochil worth as thow art / yeeue thee / &
tliow shalt haue it / what, artow astoned or adrad of the
prys i Cryst yaf him self / to purchace thee the Eegne
to god the Ifadir / Eight so yeue ^thow thy self / fat
thow maist been his kyngdam / and fat no synne regne
in thy mortel and deedly body / but let thy good spirit
legne in thee to purchace thee thetemel lyf. U And
th erf ore, who-so desirith to haue the merites euere
lastynge / he moot de-lyte him to gete hem thurgh
//;w 1SA7 (S)^ . u)
Y^'/
XZIV. HOOCLEVS'S FRIEND URGES HIM TO ENGLISH ANOTHER TALE 215
goode and veituoas wirkes / That is the path and the by deiighUng in
streight way to hlisse endelees / the which he vs
grante, fat boghte vs with his precious hlood. Amen !
Amen!
N
ow vndirstandith wel and considerith in your
hertes, ])at as mochil ioie as ther is in that As much joy as
blisf ul place, of heuene f as greet sorwe, angwissh and so great torment
torment is in fat othir part in heH / to expresse hem /
needith nat / for they been the reuers and contrarie to
the ioies aboue named / wherby uery persone may
resonablely conceyue fat in fat place of torment the
peynes been merueillously sharpe & greuous / And yit
for al fat smert / if any ende sholde sue or folwe / that
wolde yeue the soules right hy confort, and greetly
abregge and lesne hir grief / but awayte nafc aftir fat /
for it wole nat betyde / for right as the seid ioies been And as the joys
are everlasting^
etemel and aylastyngef so been tho ^peynes infynyt [i leaf 77]
and endeles / And sikirly, syn god of his hy grace and 'f Heih^* ^*'"'
benigne oourtesie hath yeuen vs libertee and freedam we can buy
either one
for to purchace by oure wirkes in this present lyfe^ fat or the other.
oon or fat othir / al standith in our choys and elec-
ciounf to grete fooles been we / but if we^ cheese the Ood grant us
to choose the
bettre part / which part, god of his infynyt goodnesse better part,
graunte vs alia to cheese / Amen !
//
'.aHjy f?e/V::^r) XXIV. >^>4r^ i^><^
1 fgtc nVbitux alia fa&ula atn instanctam
amtci mti pxt'biletti assitnuam :: ^ ::
T
[Prolog.] (1)
his booke thus to han endid had y thoght, 1 i m«ant to stop
my book here.
But my freend made me change my cast ;
Gleene out of fat purpos hath he me brog&t :
3 MS faded
^^;^^ (^^^^i'^jr)
216
bat mjfltaid
prtttoMto
[l«af77,lMck]
englith anoUMr
Tale to warn
young men
against baying
female fleah.
He said,
boaght women
slay the soal,
and empty the
parse.
And he had a
wild son of 15,
for whom he
wanted the Tale
engUsht.
Dear 78]
XZIT. A TALE WANTED AGAINST BUTINO GIRLS' FLESH.
'' Thomas/' he seide / '' at Estren that was last,
I redde a tale / which y am agast 5
To preye thee, for the laboures sake
That thow haast had / for to translate & make ; ^ 7
(2)
" And yit tu* tayn wolde y fat it maad were ; 8
Thensaumple of it / to yonge men mighte auaille,
And par cas / cause hem riot to forbere
The rathere / and be bettre of gouemaiH ;
Youthe in no wyse / wole his thankes faitt, 12
fflessh for to chepe, femel and venal,
Payyng for it / more than worth is al. 14
(3)
** J5at thyng is deere and ouer deere boght, 15
That soule sleeth / and the body destroieth,
And the purs emptith, leuynge in it noght
Or smal / swich chaffare often sythe annoieth,
And yonge folke encombrith and accloieth, 19
Lettynge hem to purchace hem good renonn,
And haastynge hem to hir confusioun.* 21
(4)
" ffor this is \ai y speke / and to this ende : 22
A sone haue y .xv. yeer of age,
ffor whom it is as wisly, god mamende,
])a\, y desire, in-to our langage
]>ai tale be translated / for Sauage 26
And wylde is he / and likly to foleye
In swich cas / now helpe if thow maist, y preye. 28
(5)
" Nat fer the tale fro / which thow maad haast 29
Of themperice / this tale is, y trowe.
And is of a womman / )Kzt was vnchaast
1 Later scribble at foot : *g p d . . This balw8(l)/ At back :
'Thomas. . nn) . . M V
' At side, later : * Mr. Joclyne/
}UJ. l^^^^L^ (d^^^^)
XXIV. HOOOLEYE AGREES TO TELL THE TALE OF J0NATHA8.
217
33
35
36
40
42
43
And deceyuable and sly / as thow shalt knowe
By J)at the lyues / thow red haue on rowe.
Brynge y shal thee / the copie verray
There-of / if thee list / seye on yee or nay."
(6)
U " ffreend, looth me were nay seye vn-to yow,
But y suppose / it may noon othir be,
Lest wommen vn-to Magge, the good kow,
Me likne / and thus seye / * o, behold e & see
The doable man / o, yondir, lo, gooth he
That hony first yaf / and now yeueth galle :
He fo in herte is / vn-to wom7?ien alle ;
(7)
" * Til he of wom7?zen oute^ wordes wikke,
He fastynge is / him seemeth ; al the day,
Out of his mowth / lesynges swarmen thikke ;
On wo7?imen / no good word / afToorthe he may ;
And if he wel speke / or wryte / is no nay,
He nat meueth / as he spekith or writ :
lewde dotepol / straw for his wit ! *
(8)
" This fat yee me now i-eede is al contrarie
Vn-to fat yee me red han heer-bofore ;
Yee senden^ / syn y many an twiuersarie
Had of wommen / for y mis had me bore
To hem or this \ yee redden me therfore
Humble me to hem / and of grace hem preye ;
But tliis reed haldith al an othir weye.
(9)
** Sholde y a nee we smoke now vp reyse,
And y so mochil rered haue or now
By your sawe than were y nat to preise."
U " Thomas, to wikkid wommen wel maist thow
Yeue hir pars / & wryte of hem euele ynow ;
* out, rft. ■= utter. [The proof of the next 8 J pages has been
^l/or seiden.
It WM R Qttta
■toiy of ft de-
oeitftil, onohMto
woman.
Hoocleve coil-
tents,
lest women
should liken him
to Madge, the
good cow,
and abuse him for
telling lies all day
about them.
47
49
50
54
56
57
[leaf 78, back]
Hoccleve thinks
this Tale incon-
sistent with his
friend's advice
that he shal beg
for women's
feYOor.
61
His friend savs,
" Blaming wicked
women
lost.]
'4/V3^? ('C/V-^iS^^
218
is no shame to
good ones.
"No woman *11
abuse you except
those who've gcme
wrong.
[leaf 79]
And 1 want the
Tale, not only for
my son, but to
rebuke women's
wantonness now."
So Hocclere
agrees.
gets tlie story,
and engUshes it.
XXIV. THE TALE IS TO BEfiUKB WOMBN's WANTONNESS.
To goode wommen shal it be no shame,
Al thogfi fat thow / vnhonest wommen blame ; 63
(10)
" IFor, Thomas / thow shalt vndirstonde this, 64
No womman wole / to thee ward maligne.
But swich oon / as hath trode hir shoo amis ;
ffor who so dooth / ful suspect is the signe ;
The vertuous womman / good and benigne, 68
Noon encheson but good / may han to thee
ffor this tale / wryte on par charitee ! 70
(11)
" Nat oonly for my sones tendrenesse^ 71
Coueite y / J>at this tale were makid /
But to rebuke also / the wantonnesse
Of lyf of many a womTwan / fat is nakid
Of honestee / and with deshonowr blakid ; 76
Eeke to miroure wommen vertuous f
What ende takith swich lyf viciousl " 77
(12)
U " On goddes half, freend / than let the copie 78
Of Jjat tale / whan yow list, be me sent ;
And with good wil / wole y ther-to me hye
Whan y there-of / take haue auisament"
H He glad was ther-wM-al / & wel content. 82
The copie on the morwe sente he me f
And thus y wroot as yee may heerc see. 84
IT Explicit prologus, & incipit
fabula de qt^dam muliere mala.
^ Later scribble at top and side :
" He that in yothe no vartue (?) well ves [= use],
in age all honor will hym refuse ;
therefore better yt were, a pouer house to holde,
then to lye in preason in fetteres of golde.
Le the Ryght Ryght Reuerent fayther in god, matsfor honor,
doctor Wyllyam) Willon) of Kyrke-lande in the dyoule [? MS.]
afore-sade dothe all vnto the . . thay thay thay that . . Can
natt, nor may nott, nor yett, I thenke, shall not Lede my Lyfe
quyet-lye ; my wyfe well not lett me."
yjtr^
I H/t-^^^A^C't^./i^
XXIV. THB QESTA TALBT OP JONATHAS AND FELUCULA.
219
(13)
1 Somtyine Reg.
85
98
99
Whilom 1 an Empe?-our prudent & wys*
Regned in Rome / and hadde sones three,
whiche he hadde in greet chiertee & greet prys ;
And whan it shoop so / fat thinfirmitee « ne Reg.
Of deeth / which no wight may eschue or^ flee, 89
Him threew down in his bed / he leet do caH
His sones / and before him they cam all ; 91
(14)
And to the firste / he seide in this maneere : 92
" Al theritage which at the dyynge
Of my fadir he me lefte \ al in feere
leue y thee U and al fat of my byynge
was / wtt^ my peny / al^ my pnrchacynge, » and r. 96
My second sone / byqwethe y to thee.'*
U And to the .iij^. sone / thus seide he :
(15)
" Vnmeeblo good right noon, wit/iouten ooth.
Thee yeue y may / but y to thee dyuyse
le Welles .iij*. a ryng / brooch & a clooth,
with whiche / and thow be gyed as the wyse,
Thow maist gete al fat oghte thee souflfyse. 103
who-so fat the ryng vsith for to were,
Of alle folke the loue he shal conquere ; 105
(16)
" And who so the brooch berith on his brest, 106
It is eek of swich vertu and swich kynde.
That thynke vp-on what thyng him lykith best,
And he as blyue shal it haue & fynde.
My wordes, sone, enprynte wel in mynde ; 110
II The clooth eeke hath a merueillous nature,
which fat committed shal be to thy cure : 112
(17)
" WhoHSO sit on it / if he wisshe where 113
In al the world to been / he sodeynly
* A few of the many differences of the worse MS. Reg. 17 D
VI are given in this sheet.
[leaf 79, back]
A Roman Em-
peror, with three
soiMf is dying,
and sends for hia
sons.
To the first, he
leaves liis inher-
ited laud.
To the second,
his acquired
property.
To the third,
three Jewels, a
Ring, a Brooch,
and a Cloth.
The Riiig 'U get
its wearer the love
of every one.
[leaf 80J
Tlte Brooch '11
get him whatever
he likee.
The Cloth
'11 carry any
sitter on it
t^_^^ r.^^/y^ti-)
320
whererer he
wishes to go.
The third Son is
to study at the
University.
The Emperor
dies.
and is solemnly
buried.
[leaf 80, back]
I shall tell you
only of the third
son, Jonathas.
His mother says
she'll give him
the three Jewels.
But her husband's
death sticlcs in
her heart.
(Some widows do
grieve terribly,
bat wise ones take
it easy.
XXIV. JONATHAS'S MOTHER GIVES HIM THK MAGIO RINO.
Withoute more labour shal be there.
Sone, tho three lewelles byqwethe y
To thee / vn-to this effect certeynly, 117
j)at to the studie of the vniuersitee
Thow go / and fat y bidde and charge thee." 119
(18)
WJian he had thus seidi / the vexaciown » yseideReg. 120
Of deeth so haastid him, fat his spiryt
Anoon forsooke his habitaciown
In his body / deeth wolde no respyt
him yeue at al / he was of his lyf qwyt, 124
And biried was with swich solempnitee
As fil to his imperial dignitee. 126
(19)
H Of the yongeste sone I telle shal, 127
And speke no more of his brethren two,
ffor with hem haue y nat to do ^ at al. « done Reg.
Thus spak the modir, lonathas vn-to :
" Syn god his wil hath of thy fadir do,* 131
To tliy fadres wil / wole y me confourme.
And trewely / his testament* parfourme : ♦ entente R 133
(20)
" He^ .iij. lewelles / as thow knowest weel, » HereBeg.
A ryng / a brooch & a clooth, thee byqweeth,
Whos vertues / he thee tolde eue^ydeel
Or \>at he paste hens / <fe yald vp the breeth.
goode god / his departynge, his^ deeth « and Reg. 138
fFul greuously stikith vn-to myn herte ; » i Reg.
But souffred moot been al / how sore it^ smerte." 140
(21)
In pat cas wom7?ien ban swich heuynesse, 141
j)at it nat lyth* in my konnynge aright • nth nat Rag.
Yow telle of so greet sorwe the excesse.
But wyse wowimen konne take it light,
And in short whyle* putte vn-to the flight • wiseR. 146
• Sithen god hath his wille / of thy fader ydo. — Keg,
)Ur^.
XXIV. JONATHAS, AT OOLLEGB, PI0K8 UP A PROSTITUTE.
221
U7
148
162
154
155
Al sorwe and wo / and cacche ageyn confort :
Now to my tale make y my resort.
(22)
% **Thy fadres wil, my sone, as y seide eei*,
wole y parfourme / haue heer the rynge, and go
To studie anoon / and whan fat thow art theer,
As thy fadir thee bad / do euene so ;
And as thow wilt, my blessyng haue also."
Shee vn-to him as swythe tooke the ryng,
And bad him keepe it weel / for any thyng*.
(23)
He wente vn-to the studie general,
Wher he gat loue ynow, and aqueyntance
Right good and freendly / the ryng causynge al.
And on a day / to him befil this chance :
With a womman, a morsel of plesance.
By the streetes of the vniuersitee
As he was in his walkynge, mette he ;
(24)
And right as blyue he wtt/t hire had a tale,
And ther-wit/i-al / sore in hir loue he brente :
Gay / fressh and pykid was shee to the sale,
ffor to fat ende and to fat entente
Shee thidir cam / and bothe foorth they wente,
And he a pistle rowned in hire ere :
Nat woot y what / for y ne cam nat there. ^
(25)
Shee was his pa?*amour, shortley^ to seye. « siioniy r. 169
This man to folkes alle was so leef,
Jjat they him yaf ^ habundance of moneye. » rafe Reg.
he feestid folke / and stood at hy boncheef ;
Of the lake* of good / he felte no greef, ♦ lakkt R«g. 173
and gel oomfbrted
again.)
Deaf 81]
Joiuitbai's mother
give* him the
Magic Ring,
and he goee to
the University.
159
161
162
166
168
He meets a wo-
man, a morsel of
pleasure.
gay and smart,
for sale.
[leaf 81, back]
and takes her
as his mistress.
^ Later scribble at foot : "This bitt made the x*** daye of
maye In the fy[r]ste yeere of the raygne of ore moste soueren
Iprd ky *'. Above : "youth . . B . . he . . yon)."
^ <? yy 3 d ^c /V2^-)
222 XXIV. PELLICULA WHEEDLES JONATHAS's SEORBT OUT OF HIM.
H« fete pltnty
of money from
hURing.
His pftramoor
Fdlkmlft
prays him.
as he's had her
maidenhead,
to tell her where
his riches come
from.
[leaf 82]
He says women
can't keep a
secret.
But, as she says
she can.
176
176
180
182
183
he tells her
J At side ; '*
Al whyles fat the ryng he with him hadde ;
But iayljnge it / his frendshipe gan sadde.^
(26)
His paramour, which fat / y-callid was
Pellicula / meruailled right gieetly
Of the despenses of this lonathas,
Syn shee no peny at al with him sy ;
And on a nyght / as ]^at shee lay him by
In the bed / thus shee to him spake & seide,
And this peticion assoiH him preyde :
(27)
H " reuerent sire / vn-to whom," quod^ shee,
" Obeye y wole ay with hertes humblesse,
Syn / fat yee ban had my virginitee, « kotn (always) Reg.
yow y byseeche, of your by gentillesse,
Tellith me whens comth the good & richesse 187
That yee with feesten folke / and ban no stoor.
By aght y see can / ne gold ne^ tresor." » no coigne in Reg.
(28)
" If y telle it," qiiod he / " par auenture
Thow wilt deskeuere it / & out it publisshe :
Swich is wommannes inconstant nature,
They can nat keepe conseil worth a risslie ;
Bettre is, my tonge keepe / than to wisshe
pat y bad kept cloos fat is goon at large, ♦ For Reg.
And* repentance is thyng fat y moot charge."^ 196
(29)
U *^ Nay, goode sire / balditli me nat suspect ; 197
Doutith nothyng ; y can be right secree.
wel worthy were it me to been abiect
ffrom al good conpaignie / if y," quod shee,
" Vn-to yow sholde so mis take^ me ; « mysuke Reg. 201
Beeth nat adrad your Conseil me to shewe."
H " wel," seide he / " thus it is, at wordes fewe : 203
ynof." * At side : •* Robert askewe . He th(J . , Lwillm."
190
194
/ /^r^>( . J^f-vv^C'^'6K^^.^ ( </x<^ . 14 )
XXIV. J0NATHA8 GIVBS PELLICULA HIS HAQIO BING. 223
(30)
«' My fadir, the ryng which \>at thow maist see 204 that hi- Ring
On my fyngir / me at his dyyng^ day » endyngReg.
Byqweeth^ / which this vertu & propretee « Bequathe Reg.
hath / fat the loue of men, he shal haue ay l^ve Wm*"
Jjat werith it / and ther shal be no nay, 208
Of what thyng fat him lykith axe & craue, inifwanto!"
But with good wil / he shal as blyue it haue 210
(31)
" Thurgh \>ai rynges vertuous excellence : 21 1 Pe^'M. bwk]
Thus am y ryche, and haue euere ynow."
H ** Now, sire, yit a word, by your licence,
Suffrith me for to seye and speke now : Feiiicuu shows
Is it wysdam / as fat it seemeth yow, 215
were 2 it on your fyngir continuelly 1 " » To were Reg.
11 " what 4 woldest thow mene," quod he,* " ther-by ]
*—* wold ye my love kotIT he. mene R^.
(32)
" What peril ther-of mighte ther befall V 218
H " Riffht greet," qiiod she / ** as yee in conpaignye him how easily
'^ ° , he may lose his
walke often / fro your fyngir mighte it faH, Ring off ws
. . finger.
Or plukkid of been^ in- a ragerie, * be piukked of Reg.
And so be lost / and fat were folic. 222
Take it me / let me been of it^ wardeyn : « be tuerof Reg. and offers to keep
•^ it for him.
ffor as my lyf, keepe it wole y^ certeyn."^ 224
7 kepe wole I it Reg.
(33)
This lonathas / this innocent yong man, 225 Poor innocent
' ^ Jonathas gives
Yeiiynge vn-to hir wordes / ful credence, — it her,
As youthe nat auysed best be canf —
The ryng hir tooke, of his insipience.
Whan this was doon / the hete & the feruence 229
® Later scribble in margin : ** harye ollyic xc to caonend [?] • .
Who seketh the renoune to have.
And eke the prayse of vertuus name
Of wisdoms ways, he ought to crave
Withe gladsom will to work the same."
.('.
P q^^ZO ff^/-/iir
224
and li«r lore at
once coolti
and men's gifts
•top.
Jonathas asks
her for the Ring
again.
She declares it's
been stolen.
(Bat It was safe
in her box all
the time.)
232
ZXIV. FBLLIOULA 8TBAL8 JONATHAS'S MAOIO RING.
Of loue / ]>at he had befom purchaced,
Was qweynt / & loues knotted was vnlaced.* 231
1 the knotte of lore Reg.
(34)
Men of hir yiftes for to stynte gan :
** A," thoghte he / " for the ryng y nat ne here,
ffaillith my loue / fecche me, womman,"
Seide he, " my ryng / anoon y wole it were."
She roos / and in-to Chambre dressith here ;
And whan shee there-in / hadde been a whyle,
" Alias," c{uod shee / " out on falshode and gyle,
236
238
(35)
Jonathas tells her
not to mind.
*' The chiste is broken / and the ryng take out." 239
And whan he herde hir conplaynte and^ cry, » andWrR.
He was astoned sore / and made a shout.
And seide / " cursid be fat day fat y
The mette first, or with myn yen sy." 243
She wepte, and shewid outward cheere of wo.
But in hire herte / was it no thyng so ; 245
(36)
The ryng was sauf ynow / and in hir cheste 246
It was / al* fat shee seide was lesyng, ♦ And aii« Reg.
As sum womman / othir whyle atte beste
Can lye and weepe / whan is hir lykyng.*
H This man sy hir wo / and seide, " derlyng, 250
Weepe no more / goddes help is ny ; " ' li?LTTe« itog^**
To him vnwist / how fals shee was and sly.* 252
• Later, at side: "^ctogt^em/aawn^aZicna jjcricwtocai^ttin:
Fortunate is he who hathe the happe
to bewarre by an-other mannes clappe."
« In a later hand (? c. 1600), at foot :
** A sufficyent salve for eache disease,
The cheff revenge for cruell yre,
Ys patyence, the present ease
For to delaye eche flamy fyre."
At side :
" I count his conquest greate.
That canne, by reasons scylle,
Subdue affections heate,
And conquer wanton wylL"
y/trrj. ic^:^^^^ (9^
XXIV. JONATHAS GETS HIS HAGIO BBOOOU. 225
(37)
He twynnecl thens / and hoom to his Contree, 253 Deaf 83, back]
Vn-to his modir, the streight way he wente. home to hu
And whan shee sy / thidir comen^ was he, **^m"^g^ ^ *'^*
U " My sone," o^iod shee / " what was thyn entente,
Thee fro the scoole / now for to ahsente ] 257
What causid thee / fro scoole hidir to^ hye ] " [« the studye
, , ^ ^ hiderReg.]
U " Modir, right this," seide he / ** nat wole y lye : 259
(38)
" ffor soothe, modir / my ryng3 is ago ; \?j\* ?ffi"\V ^60 andteiiaher
' "^ ° . jemeiooKCtt. his paramour
My paramour, to keepe y betook e it, has lost his Ring.
And it is lost / for which y am ful wo ;
SorwefuUy* vn-to myn herte it sit." * Right greuouseiy Reg.
U " Sone / often haue y warned thee / & yit 264
ffor thy profyt y warne thee, my sone ;
Vnhonest wommen / thow heere-aftir slione. 266
(39) 5 to the wole I Reg.
**Thy brooch anoon right wole y \o thee^ fette." 267 his Motiier gives
Shee broghte it him / and charged him ful deepe — Br*^" ^ ^
Whan he it tooke / and on his brest it sette, —
Bet than he dide his ryng / he sholde it keepe,
lest he the los / bewaille^ sholde and weepe." 271
To the Vniuersitee / shortly to Seyn, « for the losse lie waile Reg. He noes back to
In what he kowde / he haastid him ageyn."^ 273 ^
And whan he comen was / his pammour^ 274 [leaf 84]
Him mette anoon / and vn-to hire him tooke, and takes up
As fat he dide erst / this yong reuelour ; paramour
Hir conpaignie he nat a deel forsooke,
lliogh he cause hadde / but, as wzt/i the hooke 278
Of hir sleighte / he befom was caght & heut /
Eight so he was deceyued eft & blent. 280
7 At foot, later, "Thomas."
* In margin, later: **tho , . Gefferye thurgood . . Geflferye
thurgood . . Gefferye thurgood . . Dut to th D fayde." ,
HOCCLBVB M. P. — II. Q
Pellicula.
Za/4S>a (^cy¥2.ir
Joiiathas gets
much money
thro his Brooch.
226 XXIV. FELUOULA LBARNS ABOUT JONATHA8*8 MAGIO BROOCH.
(41)
And as thurgh vertu of the ryng before, 281
Of good he hadde habundance & plentee,
while it was \iiih him / or he hadde it lore f
Right so / thurgh vertu of the brooch, had he
What good him li8t / shee thoghte, " how may this be ?
Sum pryuee tliyng / now causith this richesse f
As dide the ryng / heer-before, y gesse." 287
(42)
Wondrynge heer-on / shee preide him, and besoghte
Bysyly nyght and day / fat telle he wolde 289
The cause of this / but he an otliir thoghte ;
He mente / ^it cloos for him^ / it kept be sholde;
And a long tyme ^it was / or he* it tolde. 292
Shee kepte^ ay to and to / and seide, ** alias
The tyme and hour / fat euere y bore* was !^ 294
(43)
" Truste yee nat on me, sire 1 " she seide ; 295
" leuer me were be slayn^ in this place « <iede Reg.
By fat good lord / fat for vs alle deide,
Than purpose ageyn*^ yow any fallace. ' ayenetReg.
Vn-to yow wole y be, my lyues space, 299
As tree we as any woynman in eerthe is
Vn-to a man / doutith no thyng of this." 301
(44)
If Smal may® shee do / fat can nat wel byheete, 302
Thogh nat parfourmed be swich a promesse. ■ kan Reg.
U This lonathas thoghte hir wordes ^so sweets,
))at he was dronke of the plesant swetnesse
Of hem / and of his foolissh tendrenesse,^ 306
Thus vn-to hire he spak and seide tho :
** Be of good confort / why weepist thow so 1 " 308
» At foot, later, ** John Bargain / Ann. 1561."
• swete
To hyin, and of his foolisli tendimesse,
Why makest thon alt this wo and hevynesse Reg.
Fellicula urges
him to tell her
where his money
comes flrom.
[1 — 1 cloos fro hir
Reg.
*—* lie not to hir
Reg.
s wept Reg.
* she borne Reg.]
[leaf 84, back]
She says she'll
sooner be slain
tlian betray him.
He is foolishly
tender,
and tells her.
/\frz:^.
ZXIT. FELLIOULA STEALS JONATHAS'S MAQIC BROOOH. 227
(45)
11 And shee ther-to answerde thus / sobbynge : 309 Feiiicuia says
** Sire," ({uod shee / " myn heuynesse and dreede
Is this / y am adrad of the leesynge she's afraid of his
Io8iii{( his Brooch.
Of your brooch / as almighty god forbeede
It happid so" // "now, what so, god thee speede," 313 .
Seide he, "woldist thow in this cas consaillel"
H Qwod shee, "fat y keepe mighte it,^ sanz faille." 315 He should let her
1 I myght it kepe Reg. ^^"^ *'
(46)
He seide, "y haue a fere & dreede algate, 316 [leaf 85]
If y so dide, thow woldest it leese,
As thow lostist my ryng / now goon but late."
IF " ffirst, god preye y," ^ ^uod shee / " fat y nat cheese p pray i god r.]
But J)at myn herte / as the cold frost may freese, 320
Or elles be it brent / yfiHi wylde fyr ;
Nay / seurly it to keepe / is my desyr." 322 safe for him.
(47)
To hir WOrdeS / credence he yaf ^ pleneer, » he yafe credence R. Jonathas gives
her tlie Brooch,
And the brooch tooke hire / and aftir anoon, 324
Where-as he was beforn ful leef & cheer* ♦ der«iieg. and loses his
_.-, , ,,,, 1/1 money and
To lolke / and hadde* good / al was agoon : friends.
Good and frendshipe him lakkid / ther was noon. 327
" Womman / me fecche the brooch," (]uod he, " swythe^ He asks for the
Broocli again.
In-to thy chambre for it go / now hy the ! " ^ 329
s the brooclie me fette. lie seide now Reg.
/^Q\ ^ go tlierfore. and tarye nat tliow Reg.
Shee in-to Chambre wente / as fat he^ bad, ^ he hir Reg.
But she nat broghte /fat he sente hir fore ; 331
Shee mente it nat / but as shee had be mad, Pellicula tears
hir clothes hath shee al to-rent & tore, and says th'e
And cryde, "alias / the brooch away is bore 1 334
ffor which y wole anoon right, vfiih my knyf she'u kiU herself.
My self slee / y bid. weery of my lyfe." 336
* Later, at side : ** Hoind . . If God, ray duty don, I humble
commend me ynto you, trustinge In the louyng god long to
contenue."
Q 2
^,A/*f'i>D
i:^^^!.^-)
228
XXIV. JONATHAS GETS HIS MAOIO OLOTH FROM HIS MOTHER.
(49)
[leftf85,back]
Jonathas takes
the knife out of
her hand.
He goes back
afpiin to his
Mother,
This noyse he herde / & blyue he to^ hir ran, > wive vntoB.
weeny nge shee wolde han doon as shee spak* ; 337
And the knyf, in al haaste \a\,^ he can, * as hastily as Reg.
ifrom hire tooke / & threew' it behynde his bak*,
And eeide / " for the los / ne for the lak* 'caste Reg. 341
and forgives her. Of the brooch / sorwe nat / y foryeue al ;
I truste in god / fat yit vs helpe he* shal." * iievsheipeR.
(50)
To theniperice his modir / this yong man 344
Ageyn him dressith / he^ wente hire vn-to. » dres^eii. and r.
And whan shee sy him / shee to wondre gan ;
Shee thoghte / * now sum what ther is mis-do ' ;
And seide / **y dreede thy lewelles two 348
Been lost now / per cas the brooch* wtVi the ryng."
H " Modir," he seide / ** yee / by heuene kyng." 350
> the brooohe p«r cas Reg.
(51)
U " Sone, thow woost wel / no Jewel is left 351
Vn-to thee now / but" the clooth precious, ' wve Reg.
Which y thee take shal / thee chargyng eft.
The conpaignie of wom?nen riotous
Thow ilee / lest it be to thee so greuous 355
That thow it nat susteene shalt,® ne here :
Swich conpaignie, on my blessynge, forbere ! " ^ 357
> ne shalt not it sustene Reg.
(52)
The clooth shee fette / and it hath ^o him take,ii 358
And of his lady his modir, his leeue » it fette . and hatti it Reg.
and tells her liis
Broooli is lost.
She warns him
against riotous
women.
[leaf 86]
and gives him his
Miigic Cloth.
* By a later hand in the margin :
*' Know er thow kyntt, and then thow mayst slake ;
yf thow kyntt er thow know, tlieii hyt ys to late, &c,"
(see pages 124, 152, above : footnotes).
** He that wyll not whan he niaye,
"Whan he wolde, he shall haue naye."
At foot, upside down :
** Better hyt hys, seeten to abyde,
then hastly to clym, and hastly to clyde [glyde]."
" Later scribble at top and side : ** Hary ollyeux (?) Ha Mollynex . ,
This it good . . hys feyndes . . to vnderstand . . mihm . ."
ytiy-c<J^^
(9^. k)
XXIV. J0NATHA8 AND FBLLIGULA GO OFF ON THE CLOTH.
229
He tookd / but first this forward gan he make :
H " Modir," seide he / " trustith this weel, & leeue
Jjat y shal seyn / for sooth yee shul it preeue : 362
If y leese this clooth / neuey^e y your face
Hens-foorth se wole / ne yow preye of gi-ace. 364
(63)
** With goddes help / y shal do wel ynow." 365
Hir blessyng he tooke / and to studie is go ;
And as beforn told haue y vn-to yow,
his paramour / his priuee mortel fo,
Was wOnt for to meete him / right euene so 369
Shee dide thanne / <& made him plesant cheere :
They clippe and kisse / and walke homward in feere.
(54)
Whan they were entred in the hows / he spradde 372
This clooth vp-on the ground / and ther-on sit,
And bad his paramowr, this womman badde,
To sitte also / by him adoun on it.
Shee dooth as ]7at he co^nmandith and bit. 376
had shee his thoght / and vertu of the clooth
wist / to han sete on it / had shee been looth. 378
(55)
Shee for a whyle was ful sore afifesid.^
H This lonathas wisshe in his herte gan :
" wolde god fat y mighte thus been esid,
That as on this clooth y and this womman
Sitte here / as fer were, as J?at neuere man 383
Or this cam " / and vnnethe had he so thoght,
But they wtt/i the clooth thidir weren broght
(56)
Right to the worldes ende, as fat it were. 386
H Whan apparceyued had shee'this / shee cryde
* Later scribble at top: **Sliee for a gode« wis fulli sorye
sas" . . "Th The y y y y y." At left side; " WoUd godd
Wolld WoUd . . stumm."
JonathM rays
he'll never eee
his Mother again
if he loses his
Cloth.
He goes back to
the University,
and again hia
paramour meets
and kisses him.
and takes him
home.
He bids her sit
by him on his
Cloth,
379 [leaf 86, back]
and then wishes
that they may
go far away.
385 At once they
are borne to the
world's end.
\AJ4^t> (^C/J/:i^s-
230
Jonathas myf
heOl IMYA FelU-
cola there,
because she's
stolen his Ring
and Brooch.
She vowf she'll
give em back to
him if he'U Uke
her home,
[leaf 87]
and swears she'U
giTS up iU doing.
Then she asks
how they were
carried away.
Jonathas tells
her of his Magic
Cloth,
XXIT. JONATHAS TELLS PELLICULA ABOUT THE MAGIC CLOTH.
As thogll shee thurgfe-girt had be wit^ a spere :
" Harrow / alias fat euere shoop this tyde !
How cam we hidir " / " nay," ho seide / ** abyde ; 390
Wers is comynge / heer, soul wole y thee leue ;
Wylde beestes thee shuln deuoure or eue, 392
(57)
" ffor thow my ryng and brooch haast fro me holden."
H " reuerent Sire, haue vp-on me pitee," 394
Qwod shee / ** if yee this grace do me wolden,
As me brynge hoom ageyn to the Citee
Where as y this day was / but if fat yee 397
hem haue ageyn / of foul deeth do me dye ;
Your bontee on me kythe / y mercy crye." 399
(58)
U This lonathas kowde no thyng be waar,^ 400
Ne take ensample of the deceites tweyne
Jjat shee dide him befom / but feith him^ baar,
And hire he comanded,^n dethes peyne,
ffro swiche offenses / thens-foorth hir restreyne.
Shee swoor, and made ther-to foreward ;
But herkneth how shee baar hire aftirward :
(59)
Whan shee sy and kneew fat the wratthe & ire
]>at he to hire had born / was goon & past,
And al was wel i shee thoghte him eft to fyre ;
In hir malice ay stood shee stidefast,
And to enquere of him / was nat agast, 411
In so short tyme / how fat it mighte be
That they cam thidir out of hir contree. 413
(60)
U ** Swich vertu hath this clooth on which we sitte,"
Seide he / " fat where / in this world vs be list, 415
Sodeynly vfiih the thoght shuln thidir flitte,
* Later scribble at side: "This coinoid (?) . . WiUiaffl . .
This is geflf." » I hir
404
406
407
/'Hrc^.
(Qa^^ >l)
XXIV. FELUCULA STEALS J0NATHA8 S MAGIO CLOTH.
231
418
420
425
427
428
And how thidir come / vn-to vs vnwist,
As thyng fro fer / vnknowen in the mist."
And ther-wttA / to this womman fraudulent,
**To sleepe," he seide / " haue I good talent ;
(61)
"Let see," qwod he / "strecche out anoon thy lappe,^
In which wole I myn heed doun leye and reste." 422
H So was it doon / and he anoon gan nappe :
Nappe f nay / he sleep / riglit wcl atte beste.
What dooth this wom^wan / oon the fikileste
Of wommen alle / but fat clooth fat lay
Vndir him / shee drow lyte & lyte away.
(62)
Whan shee it had al / ** wolde god," qwod shee,
** I were as I was this day morwenynge."
And ther-wit/t / this roote of iniquitee
Had hir wissh / and soul lefte him ther slepynge.
U " lonathas, lyke to thy perisshynge
Art thow / thy paramowr maad hath thy herd ;
Whan thow wakist / cause hast thow to be ferd ;
(63)
" But thow shalt do ful wel / thow shalt obteene
Victorie on hire / thow haast doon sum deede
Plesant to thy modir / wel can I weene,
ffor which our lord god / qwyte shal thy meede,
And thee deliure out of thy woful dreede.
The chyld / whom fat the modir vsith blesse,
fful often sythe is esid in distresse."
(64)
Whan he awook / and neithir he ne fond
Womman ne clooth / he wepte bittirly,
And seide, " alias / now is ther in no lond
Man werse, f trowe, begoon / than am y ! "
On euery syde his look^ he caste, and sy
^ Later scribble at top : 'Recognise . . Dr/
432
434
435
439
441
442
446
and says he wants
to sleep
[leaf 87, back]
on her lap.
He doe* so.
Fellicula pulls
the Cloth from
under him.
wishes herself
at liome,
and is at once
carried there.
(Jonathas, you're
triokt;
but you shall
yet win.
because your
motlier has
blest you.)
[leaf 88]
He wakes, and
finds neither
his paramour
nor liis Cloth.
Zci/ifJ>T^ (j!^ /^:i^^J
232
XXIV. JONATHAS S FBBT ARB BURNT. HE TURNS LEPER.
Nothyng but briddes / in the eir fleynge,
And wylde beestes / aboute \Am rennynge.
(65)
Of whos sigfite / he ful sore was agrysid :
He thogfete / ** al this wel disserued y haue.
What eilid mc to be so euel auysid,
That my Conseil / kowde I nat keepe & saue ]
Who can fool pleye / who can madde or raue,
But he fat to a womTTian his secree
Deskeuereth / the smert cleueth now on me."
(66)
U He thens departoil / as god woMe harmlees,
And foorth of auenture his way is went,
l^ut whidirward he drow / lie conceitlees
Was / he nat kneew / to what place he was bent,
and goes through He paste a watir / which was so feruent
burns tiie flesh ))at flessfi vp-on his feet / lefte it hi?7i noon ;
Al clecne was departid fro the boon.
Jonnthas re-
proachet himself
for having playd
the fool by trust-
ing his secret
to a woman.
He starts.
[leaf 88, back]
He fills a glass
with this water,
and then eats
some fruit which
turns him into
a leper.
(67)
H It shoop so fat he had a lytil glas,
Which, wit// fat watir / anoon filled he ;
And whan he ferthere in his way goon was,
Before \i\m he beheeld and sy a tree
)5at fair fruyt baar / and fat in greet plentee :
He eet ther-of / the taast \\wi lykid wel.
But he ther-thurgh becain a foul mesel ;
(68)
ffor which, vn-to the ground, for sorwe & wo
He curses the day He fil / and seide / " cursid be fat day
he was bom,
\>ai I was bom / and tyme and hour also
\)ai my modir conceyued me / for ay
Xow am I lost / alias and wel ea way ! "
And whan sumdel slakid his heuynesse,
but walks on. He roos / and on his way he gan him dresse.
448
449
453
455
456
460
462
463
467
469
470
474
476
^^=c/
yc'\\.AA?U^^u^
( -OUtyx. - CA.
XXIV. JONATHAS IS CURED, AND GETS WATER AND FRUIT.
233
(69)
IT An othir watir before him he sy, 477
Which for to comen in he was adrad ;
But nathelees / syn ther by / othir way,
Ne aboute it / ther kowde noon been had f
He thoghte / " so stray tly am I bystad, 481
t)at thogh it sore me affese or gaste,
Assaye it wole I " / and thurgh it he paste. 483
(70)
And right as the firste watir his flossh^ 484
Departed from his feet f so the secownde
Restored it / and made al hool and fressh.
And glad was he, and ioieful \ai sto\vnde
Whan he felte his feet hoole were and sownde.
A viole of the watir of fat brooke
He filde / & fruyt of the tree wtt/t him tooke.
(71)
ffoorth his iowrneye this lonathas heeld ;
And as \ai he his looke aboute him caste,
An-otliir tree from a-fer he by heeld.
To which he haastid and him hyed faste :
Hungry he was / and of the fruyt he thraste 495
In-to his mowth / and eet of it sadly.
And of the lee pre / he pourged was ther-by. 497
(72)
Of J)at fruyt more he raghte / & thens is goon ;
And a fair Castel from a-fer sy he,
In compas of which / heedes many oon
Of men ther heeng / as he mighte wel see \
But nat for fat / he shone nolde or flee ; 502
He thidirward him dressith the streight way,
In al fat euere fat he can or may. 504
* Later scribble at side : **Thiabitt made the x (? v) daye of
maye In the fy[r]st year of the rayne of kyiig "... " Thomas"
(6 times).
He then oomee
to another lake.
Deaf 89]
and its water
restores the flesh
of his feet.
488
He fllU a phial
with it, and takes
some of tlie leper-
490 fruit.
491
Then lie eats the
fruit of anotlier
tree, and that
cares his ieprosy.
498 He gathers some
of it,
and walks to a
Castle.
.^4/^3(9 (lCL/^2,i;\
234
Peaf 89, tMck]
Two men tell
himtiiat
UMKiogortlM
Caattt is a leper,
and kills aU tb*
doctors who cau't
care him.
JoBatbas Bays
be can enre the
King.
[leaf 90]
He gires the
Kingfrnitofthe
Sod tree.
and water of the
2nd lake,
and cures him
of his lepro^.
ZXIY. JOKATHA8 CURBS A KIKO OP LBPB06T.
(73)
Walkynge so / two men cam him ageyn,^ 505
And seiden thus / " deere freend, we yow preye,
What man he yee " IT " Sires," ^od he certeyn,
A leeche I am / and thogh myself it seye,
Can for the helthe of seeke folke wel ptnraeye.'' 509
IT They seide him / " of yondir Castel, the kyng
A leepre is / and can hool he for no thyug*. 511
(74)
'' WztA him ther hath heen many a sundry leeche 512
))at vndertooke / him for to cure and hele
On peyne of hire heedes / but al to seeche
Hire art was / waar / \a\, thow nat wttA him dele,
But if thow canst the chartre of helthe ensele, 516
Lest \a\i thow thyn heed leese / as diden they.
But thow he wys / thow fynde it shalt no pley." 518
(75)
If " Sires,** seide he / "yow thanke I of your reed, 519
fFor gentilly yee han yow to me qwit ;
But I nat dreede to leese myn heed ;
By goddes help / f iil sauf keepe I wole it,
God, of his grace, swich konnynge & wit 523
hath lent me / \a\, I hope I shal him cure ;
fful wel dar I me putte in auenture."
(76)
They to the kynges presence han him lad ;^
And him, of the fruyt of the second tree
He yaf to ete / <& bad him to be glad,
And seide anoon / "your helthe han shul yee."
Eeke of the second watir, him, yaf he
To drynke / and whan he tho two had receyued,
His leepre from him / voided was & weyued.
525
526
530
532
1 Scribble at top, "Item."
' Scribble at top and side : " d d d d d . . and he idil . . .
And wise . . Thomas . . Thomas," &c.
p^^. y..M^ fS)^.uj
XZIV. JONATHAS ARRANGES TO RETURN HOME.
235
(77)
IT The kyng / as vn-to his hy dignitee
Conuenient was / yaf him largely,
And to him seide : " if fat it lyke thee,
Abyden heere / I more habundantly
Thee yeue wole " IF " my lord, sikirly,*'
Qwod he / ** fayn wolde I your pleisir fulfill,
And in your hy presence abyde stille ;
(78)
But I no whyle may with yow abyde,
So mochil haue I to doone elles where."
IF lonathas euery day to the See syde
Which was ny / wente / to looke & enquere
If any ship drawynge thidir were,
Which him hoom to his Contree lede mighte.
And on a day, of shippes had he sighte,
(79)
Wei / a xxx*^ toward the Castel drawe ;i
And atte tyme of euen-song they ali
Arryueden / of which he was ful fawe ;
And to the Shipmen crie he gan & cali,
And seide / " if it so happe mighte & fali
\)at some of yow, me hoom to my Contree
Me brynge wolde / wel qwit sholde he be ; "
(80)
And tolde hem whidir / fat they sholden go.
IT Oon of the shipmen foorth stirte atte laste.
And to him seide / " my ship, and no mo
Of hem fat heere been / hem shape & caste
Thidir to weende / Let see / teli on faste,"
Quod the Shipman / ** fat thou for my trauaitt
Me yeue wilt / if fat I thidir saiti."
533 The King pays
Jonathaa welL
537
539
540
Jonathaa walks
seaward,
544
546
547 [leaf 90, back]
and asks the
^ ^ Captains of 80
00 1 ships, who can
take lilm home.
553
554
One agrees to
do so.
558
660
^ Scribble in maigin : ** Thomas . . Thomas . . Thomas . . Thoma.'
'>aiJ^3>0 (^C/y:isO
236
Tlie King agrees.
JonaUiu
sets sail.
and lands at the
city where tlie
serpentine Pelli-
cula is.
She thinks he's
been eaten by
wild beasts;
and he's so
changed that no
one knows him.
He sets up as a
physician.
and cures many
sick folk.
XXIV. JONATHAS 8BT8 UP AS A PHTSICIAN.
(81)
They were accorded / lonathas foorth gooth 561
Vn-to the kyng / to axe of him licence
To twynne thens / to which the kyng was looth ;
And nathelees, with his beneuolence,
This lonathas from his magnificence 565
Departed is / and foorth to the Shipman
his way he takith / as swythe as he can. 567
(82)
In-to the ship he entrith / & as hlyiie 568
As wynd and wedir, good shoop for to he,
Thidir as he purposid him arryue,
They saillid foorth / & cam to the Citee
In which this serpen tyn womTTian was / shee 572
That had him temed with false deceitis ;
But where no remedie folwith / streit is ; 574
(83)
Tomes been qwit / al be they goode or badde, 575
Sumtyme / thogh they put been in delay.
IT But to my purpos / shee deemed he hadde
Been deuoured with beestes many a day
Goon / shee thogh te / he deliured was for ay. 579
ffolke of the Citee / kneew nat lonathas,
So many a yeer was past / fat he ther was ; 581
(84)
Mislykynge & thoght / changed eek his face. 582
Abouten he gooth / and for his dwellynge
In the Citee / he hyred him a place,
And ther-in excercysid his konnynge
Of phisyke / to whom weren repeirynge 586
Many a seeke wight / and ali were helid ;
wel was the seek man / fat with him hath delid ! ^ 588
^ Later scribble in the margin : ** In the . . h . . I . . h . .
k . ,"(each repeated). "This bill made the . . k k . . viz. . .
This bill made . . This byll made the v day of* maye. This
biH . . Romane."
/hrtLc^. %ryAjx^Oi^<a^
XXIV. JONATHAS ATTENDS THE SICK FELUOULA.
237
(85)
Now slioop it thus / fat this Fellicula —
The welle of deceyuable doublenesse,
ffolwere of the steppes of dalida —
Was thanne exaltat vn-to hy richesse,
But shee was fallen in-to greet seeknesse,
And herde seyn / for nat mighte it been hid,
How maistref ul a leche he had him kid f .
(86)
Messages solempne to him she sente,
Preyynge liim to do so mochil labour
As come and seen hire / and he thidir wente.
Whan he hir sy / fat shee his pa?*amour
had been, he wel kneew / and for fat, dettour
To hire he was / hire he thoghte to qwyte
Or he wente / & no lengere it respy te ;
■ (87)
But what fat he was / shee ne wiste nat.
He sy hire vryne / & eeke felte hir pous,
And seide / " the soothe is this, pleyn & plat :
A seeknesse han yee strange & merueillous,
Which for to voide / is wondir dangerous ;
To hele yow / ther is no way but oon ;
liCche in this world / othir can fynde noon :
(88)
" Auysith yow / whethir yow list it take^
Or nat / for y told haue yow my wif
IT " A, Sire," seide shee / "for goddes sake,
J)at way me shewe / and y shal folwenit,
AVTiat-euere it be / for tliis seeknesse sit
So ny myn herte / fat y woot nat how
Me to demene / telle on, preye y yow."
589 pear 91, back]
Fellicula
593 hod fallen ill,
595
596
and sends for
Jonatlias.
600
602
603
607
609
610
6U
616
^ Later, at top : ** Ceste letttre fait le trouesme loure de aoulte
enstre lames et moye Poir du vingo 33" 39' et dcmi et quoy et
fouct farre, &c (?)." At side : "This blH made the xx** day of
may In the fy[r]8t yere of the rayne of."
He looks at Iter
urine, feels her
pulse.
and says there's
only one way to
cure her.
[leaf 92]
Slie declares she'll
follow it, wliat-
ever it is.
238
^'fli^ti3 (^^ ^'^^^~)
ZXIY. FELUCULA CONFESSES HER ROBBSBY OF JONATHAS.
Jonathas says
•be must confeM
if she's stoleii
any thing.
and must restore
(89)
" Lady, yee muste openly yow confesse ;
And if ageyn good conscience & rigfit,
Any good han yee take, more or lease,
Befom this hour of any maner wight,
yilde it anoon / elles nat in the might
Of man is it / to yeue a medecyne
j)ai yow may hele of your seeknesse & pyne.
(90)
" If any swich thyng be / telle out, y rede ;
theo abt'u be weu And yee shul been al hool, y yow byheete ;
again.
Elles myn art is naght, withouten dreede.*'
617
621
623
624
" lord," shee thoghte / helthe is a thyng ful sweete ;
Therwith desire y souerainly to meete. 628
Syn y it by confessioun may rekeuere,
A fool am I, but I my gilt deskeuere." 630
Peaf 92. back]
Slie oonfesses
how she robd
Jonathas.
His Jewels are
in a coffer at the
foot of her bed.
(91)
How falsly to the sone of themperour
lonathas / had shee doon / before hem aH,
As yee ban herd aboue / al fat errour
Bykneew shee / o Fellicula, thee caH
Wei may y so / for of the bittir gall
Thow takist the begynnynge of thy name,
Thow roote of malice / and mirowr of shame !
(92)
631
635
637
638
IT Than seide lonathas / ** where am tho three
lewelles / pat yee fro the Clerk withdrow 1 "
IT " Sire, in a Cof re / at my beddes feet yee
Shul fynde hem / opne it / and see, preye y yow."
He thoghte nat to make it qweynte and tow, 642
And seye nay / and streyne courtesie,
But with rigiLt good wil / thidir he gan hye. 644
y-Lj.
XXIV. J0NATHA8 GETS HIS JEWELS, AND POISONS PELLICULA. 239
(93)
The Cofre he opned / and hem there fond.^ 645
Who was a glad man but lonathas, who %
The rjng vp-on a fyngir of his hond
he putte / and the brooch on his brest also ;
The clooth eeke vndir his arm heeld he tho, 649
And to hire him dressith / to doon his cure,
Cure mortel / way to hir sepulture. 651
(94;
he thoghte, reewe shee sholde, and forthynke^ 652
)5at shee hire hadde vn-to him mis bore ;
And of fat watir hire he yaf to drynke,
Which fat his flessh / from his bones before
had twynned / wherthurgh he was almoost lore, 656
Nad he releeued been / as yee aboue
11 an herd / and this he dide eeke for hir loue. 658
(95)
Of the fruyt of the tree he yaf hire ete,
Which fat him made in-to the leepre sterte ;
And as blyue in hir wombe gan they frete
And gnawe so / fat change gan hire herte.
Now herkneth / how it hire made smerte :
Hir wombe opned / and out fil eche entraille
That in hire was / thus seith the booke sanz faitt. 665
(96)
Thus wrecchidly, lo / this gyle [wojman^ dyde ; 666
And lonathas, wit// tho lewelles three,
No lengere there thoghte to abyde,
JonatliM flnda
his Jewels there.
puts the Ring
on his finger,
the Brooch on his
chest,
and the Cloth
under his arm.
PeafOS]
In revenge, he
gives Fellicuia
the hot water
659 and the leper-
fruit.
663 They burst her
belly open, and
her bowels fadl
out.
Jonathas, witii
his S Jewels,
^ *' leyenge " added by a later hand. In the margin are also,
*' Louyng brother, I dan (?) . , my haryly cuddy r (?) . . p . . all
, . ifan($ . , stoops , . . This ys Jamys."
' Later, at top : " This bill made the xvij daye of* maye In
the fy[r]8t yeare of* the Rayne of kyng Edwarde the syxt, by the
grace of* god, of* Inglond, france, and yrelond, kyng."
' ' guile-y woman died ' it must be ; not *■ this guile, man did.'
'^A^'f3>o {>.e.f4:^ir)
240
goes tMdc to his
Mother,
and lives in Joy
till he dies.
XXIV. MOBALIZATION OF THE STORY OP J0NATHA8.
But hoom to thempcrice, his modir, hastith he,
Where as in ioie and in prospej'itee 670
his lyf ledde he / to his dyynge day :
And so god vs graunte \a\, we do may ! 672
Amen.
p
[leaf 93, back]
The Emperor
is God.
The first Son
is the Angels.
The 2nd Son
is tlie Patriarchs
and Propliets.
The Srd Son
is Man.
Tlie Ring is
Faith.
% Si hoduerlttf
fldem sicut gra-
num synapis &d
[1 leaf 91]
The Brooch is
the Holy Ghost.
^ Mittam vob<«
parnclitUfR &d
[iloralijation.]
Themperour fat y spake of ahoue, is oure lord god,
fat hath .iij. sones. IT By the firste sone, we
shul vndirstonde Angels / to whiche / god yaf swich
confirmacion fat they may nat synne / for aftir fat the
wikkid Angels fillen f the goode angels so sadly weren
adherent to god, and by him so confermed / fat they
migMen nat synne. IT By the second sone, we shul
vndirstonde Patriarks and Prophetes / to whiche god
yaf and by took the olde lawe / fat is to seye, the lawe
of Moyses / which was meuable / for it changid by the
comynge of Cryst / f To the .iij. sone, this Emp^'our
yaf the lewelles / fat is to seyn, the ryng / the brooch
& the clooth / ^ By the ryng fat is rownd / We shul
vndirstande feith / which is rownd, wit/iouten obliquitee
or crookidnesse / and who-so hath the ryng of verray
feith / he shal haue the loue of god and of his angels.
U Where-of our Sauueowr spekith and seith thus : H " If
yee haue as mochil feith as is the greyn of Senefee ;
yee shuln mo we seye to this hil, passe & go / and it
shal passe " / & therfore he fat hath the ryng of vermy
feith f he shal haue al ^thyng at his lust and plesance.
IT God yaf also to the Cristen man a brooch / fat is to
seyn, the holy goost / and seyde / " I shal sende to yow
the holy goost / & he shfd telle and informe yow of al
fat y seye " / and if we haue the holy goost in oure
h^tes / wMouten doute we shul han aH goodes fat
profyten to the helthe of soule / H Also god yaf to the
aUt^c/. ^^-^^.4UyCJL^f,^ {^ ^^.OU^ . 1{J
XXIV. MORAUZATION OP THB STORY OF JONATHAS.
Glisten man the .iij?^ lewel / ];at is to seyn, the precious
clooth / this clooth is parfyt charitee / which god
shewid vs in the Crois / he loued vs so mochil \a% he
deide for vs / to brynge vs to eternel blisse / therfore
who-so sitteth vp-on parfyt charitee \ dowtelees he shal
be translated out of this world / vn-to perpetuel reste.
IF The seid lonathas may be clept a Cristen man /
which is sMen or fallen in-to synne. IT His paramour,
fat is to seyn, his wrecchid flessh, cometh to him and
meetith him / stirynge him to synne / and so he leesith
the ryng of feith / which he receyued & tooke in his
bapteme. IT Also the brooch, \a\, is to seyn, the holy
goost, fleeth from hym by cause of his synne. IT The
clooth eek is with-^drawen from him, fat is to seye,
parfyt charitee / as^ often as he consentith to synne /
and thus the wrecchid man dwellith or abydith wM-
outen help among beestes / fat is to seyn / wit/t the
feend / the world and the flessh. ^ Do therfore as
dide lonathas. IF Ryse vp fro thy synne, ryse vp / for
al to longe haast thow slept in the lappe of* carnalitee
or flesshlyhede / as it is writen : IT " Aryse vp thow
fat sleepist, and y shal enlumyne thee." IT Right so
Sampson slepte in the lappe of Dalida, and loste his
strengthe. IT lonathas roos and entred in-to the watir
of penance / which twynneth and disseuerith the flessh,
fat is to seyn, flesshly affeccions / IT Aftirward he eet
of the fruyt of sharpnesse / which changed his cheere
in-to the manere of a leepre / as it is red of Cryst ;
IT " we sy him as hauynge no chiere or contenance."
IT Right so of the soule, which is in bittirnesse for the
wroght offense and synne. IT wher-of it is seid in the
figure and liknesse of the soule : IT " Blake y am, but y
The Cloth is
perfect Charity.
The Paramour is
mail's wretched
flesh.
\} leaf 94, back]
% Surge qui dor-
mis, & illuminabo
te&d
The hot Water
is Penanoe.
The Ist tree's flmit
is Sharpness.
\ Vidimus eum
taMqwam vultuta
non hadentem &d
' Later, at top : ''Radufus Wilcokes."
''Ihesus,
'' Ihesns, haue mercy yppon vs and this Inglishe nacyon,
wAich hath bene of christs flock an habitacion."
At foot : " Thomas, late Pokes Wal^re (?) " and some French,
upside down.
HOOOLBVE, M.P. — II. B
^.af4'i>o
(^c //:.s-) ^rUj. y..^^
242
Y "Sigra raw, set
formoMftd
The tnd Water
is the Holy
CommaiiioD.
{} leaf 95]
\ Ego raw font;
qM< biberit iui
The fruit of
the 2nd tree is
Reason.
The Ship is the
Chorch.
The Home is
the Kingdom of
Hraven.
Little poem,
beg Lady West-
morland
to receive yon
as her riglit,
and try to please
ber.
XXIV. HOOCLBYB's DKDIOATION to lady MTESTIIOBLANI).
am fair" / ])at is to seyn, blak^ in body, and fair in
soole. IT lonathas entred the second watir, wluch
restored al, &c. IT This watir is the holy commxmiotm
aftir penitence, IT Wher-of spake oure ^Sauueour;*
IT " I am the well / who-so drynkith of fat watir, he
shal nat thriste ageyn." IT Aftir, this lonathas eet of
the frayt of the second tree, which restored al Jjat was
lost, ]yat is to seyn, whan man is glorified in etemel
lyf, and helith the kyng, )>at is to seyn, resoun. and
so he entrith the ship of the chirche / and to his
paramour, )>at is to seyn, his flessh, he piinieieth watir
of contricioun & frnyt of penance and sharpuesse / for
which the fless& / \ai is to seyn, carnel or flesshly
affeccton, sterueth and dieth / and the man purchaceth
& getith by penitence the goodes fat were lost / and so
he gooth in to his Contree, fat is to seyn, the Eegne
of heuene : to which, god of his grace brynge vs att.
Amen 1
Go, smal book* / to the noble excellence
Of my lady / of Westmerland / and seye,
Hir humble seniant / with al reuerence
Him reoommanditb vn-to liir nobleye ;
And byseeche hire / on my behalue, & preye.
Thee to receyue / for hire owne riglit ;
And looke thow / in al manere weye
To plese hir wommanheJe / do thy might.
Humble seniant
to your gracious
noblesse
T: Hoccleue.
At foot, later, "Perlegi 1666.
ff
2 Later, at top: "Vnto the gloi^ous Resurreccyon of the
Body and the lyfe Euer lastyng." At side "radulfus Wilcok . .
honerif isnilitatibus . . But, the sayd def (?)."
243
NOTES.
I.
Extracts from Christine de Pisan's L*Epistre au
Dieu d! Amours (Mai 1899). — CEuvres Po6tiques
de C. de P. publi^es par Maurice Roy. ii. 1 — 27.
Soc. des Anciens Textes Frangais, 1891.
[The nos. of the English lines are on the left ; those of
the Irench on the right.]
1 Cupido, roy par la grace de lui, 1
Dieu des amans, sans aide de nullui
2 Regnant en Fair du ciel tr^s reluisant
6 Filz de Venus la deesse poissant, 4
Sire d'amours et de tons ses obgiez,
6 A tons nos vrais loiaulx servans subgiez,
7 Salut, Amour, Familiarity I
• 8 Savoir faisons en generality 8
11 Qu*a nostre Court sont venues complaintes
Par devant nous, et moult piteuses plaintes
9 De par toutes dames et dumoiselles,
10 Gentilz femmes, bourgoises et pucelles, 12
Et de toutes femmes generaument,
Nostre secours requerant humblement ... 14
11 Si se plaignent les dessusdittes dames, 17
12 Des grans extors, . . des oultrages tr4s griefs, 20
Que chascun jour des desloiaulx resolvent,
Qui les blnsment, diffament et de90ivent
15-16 Sur tons pais se complaignent de France ... 23
18 Car a present sont pfuseurs chevaliers 33
£t escuiers mains duis et coustumiers
21 D'elles trayr par beaulx blandissemens.
18 Si se faignent estre loyaulx amans 36
21 Et se cueuvrent de diverse faintise ;
22-6 Si vont disant que griefment les atise
L*amour d*elles, qui leur cuer tient en serre,
Dont Pun se plaint, a I'autre le cuer serre, 40
19, 22 L'autre pleurd par semblant et souspire,
26 Et l'autre faint que trop griefment empire
23 Par trop amer tout soit descoulour^,
28 Et presque mort et tout alangor^, 44
29 Et jurent fort, et promettent et mentent
33 Estre loiaulx, secrez, et puis s'en vantent ... 46
41 Ainsi, se trop ne sont aperceUes, 99
42 Sont maintes fois les dames deceiles.
41 Car simples sont, n'y pensent se bien non^
244 Chridme de PisarCs " FEpidre au Dieu dHAmcwnT
Dont il avient souvent, veuUent ou non, 102
42 Qii^amer leur fault ceuiz qui si lea de^oivent,
49 Trai'es sont ains qu'elles I'apergoivent. 104
50-1 Mais quant ainsi sont fort envolop^es, — 105
57 Leg desloiaulz qui les ont attrap^es,
Or escoutez comment ilz s'en chevissent :
59 Ne leur souffist ce qu'ainsi les trabissent, 108
57 Ains ont compaings de leur male alliance ;
62 Si n'y remaint ne fait ne couvenance
63 Qui ne soit dit I'un a Tautre, et, trop plus
Qu'ilz n'ont de bien, se van tent que reclus 112
68 Sont devenus en la cbambre leurs dames
Dont sont amez ; puis jurent corps et ames
Comment du fait il leur est avenu,
68 Et que coucb6 braz a braz y ont nu . . . 116
78 Mais s'aucunes attraient en tel guise, 537
80 Quel merveille ? Ne fu pas, par faintise,
82 Par faalz consaulz, par tra'ison basde,
Par parlemens, engins et foy mentie, 540
81 La grant cit6 de Troye jadis prise,
83 Qui tant fu fort, et toute en feu esprise ? 542
£t tous les jours par engins et desrois
85 Ne traist on et royaumes et roys ? . . , 544
Et fust ores malicieuse et sage 551
Si n*est ce pas en ce grant vasselage
89 A bomme agu, de grant malice plein,
90 Qui peine y met comme il en est tout plein. 554
99 La rigolent Pun Tautre, et par reprocbes 126
SVntredient : ** Je s^ay bien de tes fais,
100 " Telle est t'amie, et tu ie jolis fais
102-8 " Pour sienne amour ; mais pluseurs y ont part ;
104-5 "Tu es receu quant un autre s*en part." 130
Et puis apr^s s'en moquent et s'en vantent, 531
110 Et vont disant que fenimes se consentent
127 Legierement, com legieres et frail les,
111 Et qu*on ne doit avoir fiance en elles . . . 534
113 La difEament les envieux la belle 131
115 Sanz acboison, ne nul mal savoir d'elle ;
Et lors cellui qui en est rigol4
Monstre semblant qu*il en soit adoul^s . . . 134
120 Si en y a qui se sont mis en peine 147
121 Qu'on les amast, mais perdu ont leur peine ;
122-3 Si sont bonteux dont ilz sont reffus^ ;
124 Ne veulent pas qu'on croie que mus^ 150
Ayent en vain, pour ce de ce se vantent
126 Qu'oncques n'avint . . .
134 Et quel proffit vient d'ainsi diffamer 165
135 A ceulz meismes qui se deussent armer
136 Pour les garder, et leur honneur deffendre ?
188 Car tout bomme doit avoir le cuer tendre
Christine de PisarCs '' L'Epistre au Dieu (T Amours J* 245
174 Envers femme qui a tout homme est mere . . . 169
148 Et Buppo86 qu'il en y ait de nyces 185
150 Ou remplies de pluseurs divers vices,
151 Sanz foy, n'amour, ne nulle loiaultl,
153 Fieres, males, plaines de cruault^,
149 Ou pou constans, legieres, variables,
152 CautelleuseS) fausses et decevables, 190
154 Doit on pour taut toutes mettre en fremaille,
Et tesmoignier qu'il n'est nulle qui vaille ?
155 Quant le hault Dieu fist et forma les angelz . . . 193
156-7 N*en y ot il de mauvais en leurs fais ? 195
160 Doit on pour tant angelz nommer mauvais ? . . , 196
169 Par ces preuves justes et veritables 721
Je conclus que tous hommes raisonables
170 Doivent femmes prisier, cberir, amer,
175 Et ne doivent avoir cuer de blasmer
174 Elles de qui tout bonnne est descendu . . . 725
190 Si se plaingnent les dessusdittes dames 259
191 De pluseurs clers qui sus leur mettent blasmes,
Dittiez en font, rimes, proses et vers,
192 En diffamant leurs meurs par moz divers . . . 262
197 En vers dient, Adam, David, Sanson, 267
199 Et Salemon et autres a foison,
198 Furent deceuz par femme main et tart;
202 Et qui sera done li boms qui s'en gart ? . . . 270
204 Ovide en dit, en un livre qu'il fist, 281
206 Assez de maulz, dout je tiens qu'il meffist,
204-5 Qu'il appella le " Remede d'amours,"
205 On leur met sus moult de villaines mours,
Ordes, laides, pleines de villenie . . . 285
Si ont les clers apris tr^s leur enfance 291
211 Cellui livret en premiere science
De gramaire, et aux autres I'aprenent
213 A celle fin qu'a femme amer n'emprenent.
219 Mais de ce sont folz, et perdent leur peine, 295
220 Ne I'empescbier, si n'est fors cbose value.
221 Car, entre moy et ma dame Nature^
222 Ne soufirerons, tant com le monde dure, 298
224 Que cberies et am^es ne soient,
232 Malgr^ touz ceulz qui blasmer les vouldroient,
Et qu'a pluseurs meismes qui plus les blasment
234 N'ostent les cuers, et ravissent et emblent . . . 302
225 Et aucuns sont qui iadis en mes las 495
227 Furent tenus, mais il sont d'amer las,
226 Ou par vieillece ou deffaulte de cuer,
227 Si ne veulent plus amer a nul fuer,
Et convenant m'ont de tous poins ny^,
230 Moy et mon fait guerpy et reni^ 500
231 Comme mauvais serviteurs et rebelles.
228 Et telle gent racontent telz nouvelles
Gommunement, et se plaiguent, et blasment
232 Moy et mon fait, et les femmes diffament . . . 504
Si M tel gent trop plus qu'autre riens, certes 509
246 ChrutiM de PimCg TEpidre am Ditu fAnumnT
iM Et les pmye soarent de leon de— ertct ;
Car, en despit de lean males paroles,
236 Eabc aasorter d'aacimes femmes foles, 512
237,262 De poa d'onnenr, males, mameDomm^es,
239 Je fais yceolz : de tel gent sont mmd^cs 514
La sont snrpna et bien enrelop^ 517
Cealz qui les mieuix caident estre eschapi*^.
263 Comme il affiert sunt tel gent avoy^ ;
245 Si lenr est bien tel mescbief emploi^ . . . 520
246 l/autres pluseurs, et meismement Oride 321
Qui tant en Toalt, puis diffaroer les coide ;
247 Et tous les clers, qui tant en ont pari^
252 Plus qu'a litre ^ens en furent affbl^
259 Non pas d*uce seule roais d'un millier. . . . 325
274 Li antres d it que moult sont deceTables, 271
275 Cautilleuses, faolses et poa Yalables.
Aatres dient que trop sont men^ongieres,
279 Variables, inconstans et legieres . . . 274
Et meismement pouete si soubtil 387
Comme Ovide, qui puis fa en exil,
281-3 Et Jehan de Meun ou Roroant de la Rose,
286 Quel long proc^ ! quel difficile chose ! . . . 390
287 Pour decepvoir sanz plus ane pncelle . . . 395
291 A foible lieu faut il done grant assault ? 397
Comment peut on de pr^ faire grand saat ?
Je ne 89ay pas ce veoir ne comprendre
296-7 Qae grant peine faille a foible lieu prendre, 400
289 Ne art, n'engin, ne grant soubtiyetl.
295 Dont convient il tout de necessity
296 Puis qu'art convient, grant engin et grant peine,
297 A decevoir femme noble on villaine, 404
298 Qu'elz ne soient mie si variables,
299 Comme aacun dit n*en leur fait si muables^ . . 406
302 Que fiit jadis Medee au faulz Jason ? 437
303 Tt68 loialle, et lui fist la toison
304 D'or conquerir par son engin soabtil,
Dont il acquist loz plus qu'autres cent mil . . . 440
308 Par elle fd renomm^ dessus tous, 441
Si lui promist que loial ami doolz
307 Seroit toat sien, mais sa foy lui menti,
Et la laissa pour autre, et s'en parti 444
311 Que fa Dido, ro^ne de Cartage,
De grant amour et de loial corage,
309 Vers Eneas qui, exilic de Troye,
Aloit par mer las, despris et sanz joye, 448
312 Presque pery, lui et ses chevaliers ?
Recaeilli fu, dont lui estoit mestiers
310 De la belle, qu*il faussement de^ at .... 451
315 Dont a la fin celle, pour s'amisti^ 459
^ Hoccleve wisely leaves out Christine's retort that the books
against them weren't written by women (609-10) ; had they been
(416), things nd have been differently pat.
Ohridine de PisarCs *' EEpistre au Dim d! Amours!* 247
Morut de dueil, doDt ce fu grant piti^. 460
Si trouvera, se vient a droit jugier, 643
330 Que le plus grant mal puet pou dommagier :
331 N'occient gent, ne blescent, ne mahagnent,
Ne traisone ne pourchacent n'einpregnent,
334 Feu ne boutent, ne desheritent gent,
335 N'empoisonnent, n'emblent or ne argent, 648
Ne de9oivent d'avoir ne d'eritage,
336 N'en faulz contrus, et ne portent domage
333 Aux royauines, aux duchies, n'aux empires ;
Mal ne s'ensuit gaires, meismes des p^res .... 652
. . . . elles n'ont pas les cuers 670
Enclins ad ce, ne a cruault^ f aire ;
337-40 Car nature de femnie est debonnaire, [See aIm les-ns.]
346 Moult piteuse, paourouse et doubtable,
345 Humble, doulce, coye, et moult charitable, 674
347- Amiable, devote,en payz bonteuse,
346 Et guerre craiiit, simple et reli^ieuse,
341 Et en courroux tost apaise son yre . . . . 677
361 ... mais dii decevement 608
351-7 Dont on blasme dame Eve nostre mere,
354 Dont s'ensuivi de Dieu sentence amere, 610
365-6 Je di pour vray qu 'onc(i Adam ne de9ut,
364 Et simplement de Tanenii con9ut
363 La parole qu'il lui donna a croire,
Si li cuida estre loial et voire, 614
En celle foy de lui dire s*avance ;
367 Si ne fut done fraude ne decepvance
Car simplece, sanz malice cel^e,
367 Ne doit estre decepvance appelUe. 618
372 Nul ne de9oit sanz cuidier decepvoir,
371 Ou aultrement decepvance n'est voir. 620
374-5 Quelz grans mauiz done en pevent estre diz?
Par desservir n*ont elles paradis?
375 De quelz crismes les peut on accuser ? . . . 623
Mais, qui qu^en ait mesdit ou mal escript 559
435 Je ne triiis pas en livre n'en escript
437 Qui de Jhesus parle, ou de sa vie,
436 Ou de sa mort pourchac^e d'envie , . . 562
444 N'euvangite qui nul mal en tesraoigne, 565
Mais mamt grant bien, mainte haulte besoigne,
447 Grant prudence, grant sens, et grant Constance,
Parfaite amour, en foy grant arrestance,
Grant charity . . . et grant semblant en firent, 569, 71
438 Car, mort ne vif, oncque ne le guerpirent.
442 Fors des fenimes fu de tons delaissi^
Le doulz Jhesus, navr^, mort et bleci^.
443 Toute la foy remaint en une femme .... 575
450 Et se j*ay dit d'elles bien et louenge, 759
451 Comme il est vray, ne I'ay fait par losange
452 N*a celle fin que plus orgueil en aient,
453 Mais tout a fin que toudis elles soyent
454 Curieuses de mieulz en mieulz voioir,
248 Christine de Pisaris ** VEpistre au JHeu (TA^nours."
Sanz les vices que I'en ne doit avoir ; 764
456 Gar qui plus a grant vertu et bont^,
En doit estre moins d' orgueil surmont^,
457-8 Gar les vertus si enchacent les vices.
Et, s'il est des ferames aucunes nyces, 768
Gest' Epistre leur puist estre dottrine,
Le mal laissent ; les bonnes vueillent en ce
454 Prendre vouloir d* auoir perseverence, 772
455,62 Si aront preu, grant honneur, joye et los
£t Paradis a la fin, dire Tos. 774
463 Pour ce conclus en difiBuicion,
466-7 Que des mauvais soit fait punicion 776
Qui les blasnient .... si soient tuit 777, 779
468 De nostre Gourt chaci^ bani, destniit .... 780
464 Et commandons de fait a no maisnie 784
465 Generaument et a noz oflficiers .... 785
466 .... que tou^ ceuz nmubaillis 788
Et villennez soient tr^s laidement
467 Injuriez, punis honteusement .... 790
470 Accompli soit sanz f aire aucun delais. 795
472-3 DoNN^ en Tair, en nostre grant palais,
Le jour de May la solempn^e feste
474 Ou les amans nous font mainte requeste,
475 L' An de grace Mil trois cens quate vins
Et dix et neuf, present dieux et divins «... 800
Greintis [= Gristine].
Explicit 1' Epistre an dieu d' amours. 828
249
II.
LETTER OF CUPID, p. 72—91.
COLLATION OF THE ASHBURNHAM MS 63, & SHIRLEY'S
MS TRIN. COLL. CAMB. R. 3. 20, p. 116 &c.
72/1. comaundementes Sh.
— 4. the mortel A, al mortel Sh.
— 5. the om. A, Sh., citheres sone
oonly Sh.
— 6. alle A Sh.
— 7. gretyng hertly Sh., gretynges
senden A.
73/8. wole A, wol Sh.
— 9. and A, of Sh.
— 10. esowe Sh.
— 11. Swich A, ... of F, as Sh.
— 12. doon A, which doone Sh.
— 14. this F, hir A, ]>e Sh.
— 15. And passyng* A, ... on) F,
vpon Sh., . . . the litel F,
this A.
— 18. can . . .'dissimulen A.
— 19. on F, in A, Sh. ; her F, J>eyre
Sh.
— 20. herte A, feel en Sh.
— 23. and with A, a chere Sh.
— 24. trewely A, truwly Sh.
— 25. in hert that they Sh. ; han
swich A.
— 26. seyne Sh.
— 27. list Sh.
— 28. most Sh.
— 29. seyn A, seyne Sh.
— 30. as doth F, Shewen A.
— 31. Whyles . . . lasten A ; last
... or Sh.
— 32. and . . . ecli F, in euery A.
— 33. al F, yche A.
74/34. ryglit as F, As >at A Sh. ;
lyste F, lykith A.
— 35. moot myn herte A ; . . .
herte I prey Sh.
— 38. worde may non A ; non astert
F^ ther noon sterte A.
74/39. reson) ... to F, sholde any
wight by resun A, reson
any wight sholde Sh.
— 43. moveth . . . F, women
meeued of A Sh.
— 44. as \>At tho A.
— 45. they graunte F, graunten A,
Sh.
— 46. that . . . nat F, they nat
shulden A, that \>ey shulde
nat Sh.
— 48. of F, In Sh. ; they A, ye F.
— 49. thus A, Sh., and thus F ;
while J>ees Sh.
— 50. this F, the A Sh. ; pot A
penne F ; })us haj>e \>e
potte by stele Sh.
— 51. is in his F, of hire hath A.
— 52. kepeth . . . more F, lie
keepith nat A, with her ne
kepe})e he more Sh.
— 53. after, om. Sh. ; fynden A,
f. owher Sh.
— 55. bestowe so Sh.
— 56. )>ee8 men for alle J>eyre ooj^es
beon harde to leede Sh.
75/59. this woman this traytoure
Sh., this tr. the w. A.
— 60. faste . . . F, fast him spedeth
F, spedeth him fast SIi.
— 61. on a lowe F A. ouer throwe
Sh.
— 62. ne A Sh.
— 63. telleth him Sh.
— 65. to accuse A.
— 66. to . . . selfe F, confesse him
A ; No we is ]>is witte /
confesse himself thraytour
Sh.
250
Collations of * T?ie Letter of Cupid.'
75/67. a A.
— 68. tellen how hir body he Sh. ;
do F, doon A.
— 69. he . . . him F, to him thus
loo Sh.
— 70. grete esclaundre F Sh., ful
greet rep reef A ; vnto F,
booJ)e to Sh.
— 71. name yet F, nay / yit A.
— 72. vertu F, pitee ... it A,
goode ... it Sh.
— 74. inwardes Sh.
— 75. sclaundre F, shame A.
— 76. thanke A, hye thank Sh.
— 77. whiche . . . helpen Sh.
— 78. l>at men by si. A Sh.
— 79. Innocent F, ignorant A.
— 80. ys . . . sith F A, sith ys
Sh.
— 81. as pat A.
— 82. om. the Sh.
76/83. al A Sh.
— 85. Betrayen A Sh.
— yi Citees F A, Resumes Sh.
— 86. is yt . . . shape F, is . . .
shape a A Sh.
— 87. Agevnes false & hid A, A.
falsely hidde Sh.
— 88. suche F, tho A ; craftes F A,
castes Sh.
— 89. wytte . . . redy F, wil ay
reedy is A Sh.
— 90. thinges that 80une)>e Sh. ;
hy A, hye Sh.
— 91. beth F, be A.
— 92. these F, the A.
— 93. asASh.
— 94. they A, )>ey Sh.
— 96. om. to A.
— 97. guerdonethheF,himqwytith
A.
— 98. lytell wote F, Smal witen A,
1. knowe Sh.
— 99. To his felaw an otiiir wreche
A.
— 100. the hath F, hath thee A.
■— 102. desyrid A.
— 106. ride F, ride on Sh.
— 107. whilest Sh. ; for, om. A.
77/108. wol F, can A ; with-sey F,
sey ney Sh.
— 109. smertly F, qwikly A ; snak'
A,
— 110. thus these F, so the A.
77/111. so . • . mot F, })at . . . oft
gyled shal Sh.
— 112. ay ... F, For . . . nouel-
lerye Sh.
— 114. self / hyr<j F, self/ here A.
— 115. Repreef of her he spekth A.
— 117. dyuers F, sundry A; oft
maken Sh.
— 120. Ful . . . wolde F, For . . .
wolde eke Sh.
— 121. spent his tyme A.
— 123. hyr pleynly F, his lady A.
— 1-4. and F, or Sh. ; had A.
— 127. For euery Sh.
— 129. leiser han A Sh.
78/131. onmaddyngehe.. broghtA.
— 132. he shoulde Sh.
— 133. which wymmen loven Sh,
— 134. To F, And Sh.
— 135. too F, To A.
— 136. and in F, For ]>e Sh.
— 138. yf that F, And if Sh.
— 139. Al moot he flee \>at is to it
A.
— 140. his grete F, ther-to A, mans
g. Sh.
— 141. A foul vice A, Right foule
itSh.
— 143. men F, man A Sh.
— 147. thise ... in F, the ... at
A ; beth F, been Sh.
— 148. man ... a woman Sh.
— 151. and F, al Sh.
— 153. and ful F, al ful Sh.
— 154. that . . . al F, swiche alle A.
79/156. al . . . were F, alle was A.
— 158. al men woot F, men wel
knowen A.
— 159. that F, wheche Sh.
— 161. he that ... is F, which . . .
is moche Sh.
— 163. yit of hem were goode Sh.
— 164. fynden A; happen men to
fynde Sh.
— 165. good is for teschuwe Sh,
— 166. aeeme . . . alle A, deme it
. . . al Sh.
— 167. se . . . falsenesse A, se it
. . . f. Sh.
— 168. trusten F A, trust \>e Sh.
— 170. hir F, hem Sh.
— 171. ]>e w. hir shap be thikke or
ellys Sh.
— 172. good or badde Sh.
Collations of * The Letter of Cupid!
251
79/173. euery m. w. F, For yen
wight Sh.
— 176. ys yt F, ha})e lie Sh. ; shame
. . . speke F, shame / speke
of hir A.
— 176. forth F, out Sh.
— 179. be . . . F, )>y M. vnto the
. bee Sh.
— 180. thou . . . F, man shal hon-
nour })ee Sli.
80/181. hir nat F, nat liirc A ; And
d. t. h. in Sh.
— 182. by F, thurgh A.
— 183. ys seyde in oure e. Sh.
— 184. foule F A, beest Sh.
— 185. that he F, so it A.
— 186. vseth F, wont is A.
— 187. wel ... F, of wommen wel
A.
— 188. to displesen F, for to de-
spise A Sh ; ne F A, and
Sh.
— 189. they wol F Sh., hem list A.
— 190. These, om. A.
— 191. bokes of hir F, makynges of
Sh.
— 192. dispisen t w. F, they lakken
wommenes A.
— 194. hem yeue A, gyf hem Sh.
— 196. belowen A.
■— 197. Tho F, })eire Sh. ; sory F,
wikkid A.
— 200. may F, koude Sh.
— 201. done . . . F, edoo and yet
Sh.
— 202. the . . . not F, who may hire
by malice A ; hir F, }»eyre
Sh.
— 203. as that theys F, Not the
world A, as that the Sh.
— 205. reprefe F, villanye Sh.
81/208. a F A, as Sh.
— 209. or ryme F, ryme A.
— 210. he F A, ]>Qy Sh.
— 211. hir F A, J?eyre Sh.
— 213. to louo hem ever to Sh.
— 214. syn F, sithe Sh.
— 215. They»-"»>rtA.
— 216. and, cm. A ; suche . . .
wrapped F, sweche . . .
trapped Sh.
— 218. No F, Ye no Sh. ; thyse F,
\>ai the A.
— 219. 1 do F Sh., do we A.
81/220. labour and trauaille A.
— 221. betwixt vs A.
— 222. noon F, nat A, not Sh.
— 223. these F, om. A ; cruel F,
outrageous A.
— 225. my F, our A.
— 226. ytyed F, Tyd A.
— 228. ys F, nis Sh.
— 229. they F, om, Sh.
— 231. me . . . my F, vs . . . our, A.
82/233. myn F, oure A.
— 234. I F, We A.
— 243. )>ouffhe that no w. bee
ewhette Sh.
— 244. persyng . . . how F, strokes
how sore A.
— 245. kerve F, brest Sh.
— 248. as it is knowen wyde Sh.
— 249. man F, men Sh.
— 251. koude F, come Sh.
— 256. they F, in herte they A.
— 257. this F, tho A, so thees, Sh.
83/258. oon v. and o^er they were,
Sh.
— 259. thise F, the A ; often F,
wel oft Sh.
— 260. thise F. (m, A.
— 261. weren nat they / A.
— 262. as weren F, that wem A.
— 263. this F, thees Sh.
— 266. worshippe F, honur A.
— 267. thise F, tho' A.
— 272. For v. o. he can abyde Sh.
— 273. a wight F, oon for A, folkos
for Sh.
— 274. this F, the A.
— 276. wonne F A, conquerd Sh.
— 278. refreyne F, restreyne A.
— 282. occupacion) F, opynyoun
Sh.
84/286. Aparaylles for to tellen vp
Sh.
— 286. longe F, large Sh.
— 288. I . . . my F, we . . . our A,
,, Nough . . . ne in ... com-
prende Sh.
— 291. shall soo, Sh.
— 296. moot yt, Sh.
— 297. for to . . . whateuer Sh.
— 299. thise F, tho A ; feyne F A,
seyne Sh.
— 304 quyt be hir F, j^ane q. his
Sh.
— 306. this man F, l^ees men Sh.
252
Collations of * The Letter of Gvpid!
84/307. hir . . . his F, hem . . .
J^ayre Sh.
— 308. gat him . . . name F, grete
. . . fame Sh.
85/310. wrechch F Sh., man A.
— 311. Vnto Dido whiche Sh.
— 312. smertys F, greeues A.
— 313. han doon F, do A.
— 315. theiof F, of it A.
— 316. my . . . may F, our . . . may
men A, J>e . . . may men Sh.
— 318. no ... F, noon / ne byheste
may men, A.
— 319. repreuable F, repreef ne
of A.
— 320. In herte of man / conceites
trewe am dede A.
„ hath F, hath no we Sh.
— 321. noght F, naght A, barreine
Sh.
„ trouthe F A, feyth Sh.
— 322. namely yt is F, / is hir vice
A.
„ nat . . . F, ful wel knowe,
Sh.
— 324. a womans F, wommannes
A, })ee8 wymmens Sh.
— 327. No fors ... no F, Yee /
strab . . . noon A ; no F,
lytel Sh.
— 328. kepe wel . . . what so Sh.
— 331. dystroyen no F, ne d. Sh.
86/335. Folke enpoysone / or h. A.
— 339. To t. A, To al thewes, Sh.
— 341. wel . . . a F, so wel kan )>e,
Sh.
— 342. softe A, soft Sh.
— 343. be ... F, been . . . J>e
sygne Sh.
— 344. Wommannes h. to A.
— 347. ful amyable Sh.
— 349. hath not thise Sh.
— 350. Ne . . . nat I, Folwyth
nothing A.
— 351. firste A; natheles F A,
neuer )7e leese Sh.
— 352. lese his F, to lese liir Sh.
— 354. heestes F A, heest J>oo Sh.
— 355. tasten of a F, to ete of the
A, to tasten of )>e Sh,
— 356. ne F, nat A.
— 357. deuel . . . ne F, feend been
/ no more she A, feende
ebee n. she Sh.
87/368. penvyousSh.
— 360. for to F, to A.
— 361. Eve to aeceyve Sh.
— 363. noght F, nat A, nade Sh.
— 365. I sey F, we seyn A ; goode
Sh.
— 366. ne F A, she Sh.
— 367. may F, cane Sh.
— 368. })at she F, she \>qq Sh.
— 369. er F, or A.
— 371. calle ... no F, may not
calle yt Sh.
— 372. yt F, yt first Sh.
— 374. to demen F, for to deeme A.
— 375. she F A, Eve Sh. ; this
harme F Sh., \>at gilt A.
— 377. hir F, Eves Sh.
— 379. Touchynge which/ A.
— 380. I F, We A.
— 381. that . . . now F, men mowe
A, that men now may Sh.
— 383. This haue A ; I F, We A.
88/385. hir hold F, hir holde, A,
holde Eve Sh.
— 391. feende F A, worme Sh.
— 393. this F, i>at A SIi.
— 395. sleythes F, sleightes A.
— 396. of F A, hool of Sh.
— 397. from tiie F, from A Sh.
— 399. him . . . of F A, man . . .
frome Sh.
— 400. to F Sh., fro A.
— 404. that she F A, she cleen Sh.
— 406. hir . . . bore F, hire be
borne A, hir hir he borne
Sh.
— 408. leene F Sh., weyke A.
89/410. preysing F, laude A.
— 411. 1 sey, F Sh., We Witen A.
— 412. men F, man A Sh.
— 415. that F Sh., it A.
— 416. now . . . good F, it is to
taken A.
— 418. honureth F A, worshipe^e
Sh.
— 419. al F, alle A Sh.
— 420. and . . . a F, For . . . offt
Sh.
— 421. F Sh. om. A.
— 422. blood F A, blood heere Sh.
— 423. I F, We A.
— 424. thou F Sh., A.
— 425. Ouercam A, In ouerkomyng
Sh.
Collations of ' Th^ Letter of Cupid!
253
89/427. Vn-to the feith of God /
holy virgyne A; of God
A, \>o\x goode Sh.
— 428. I F, We A, )»at I Sh.
— 429. by F, Oonly by Sh.
— 430. neuer in my F, nat in one
A, not in my Sh.
— 431. euer werre y F, ay We wer-
rey A, euer I werre Sh.
— 432. lo . . . me F, leeueth wel
ye A.
— 434. remembrance We nat may
A.
90/437. maketh F A, made Sh.
— 440. pardee as w. Sh.
— 442. Womman F A, Wymmen
Sh.
— 444. for . . . F, holy wryt thus
Sh. ; seyeth F, seith A.
— 445. shal . . yt shoule so f. Sh.
— 446. I . . . F Sh, it may preeued
be ther-by A.
— 447. stable F, al the A.
— 448. the F, al A, <m. Sh.
90/451. tolde F Sh., is nat told A.
— 452. or F, ne Sh.
— 455. liir F, )>eyre Sh.
— 457. digne . . . noble F Sh., noble
is / and worthy A ; in
F A, of Sh.
— 458-60. he F Sh., she A.
91/461. vertu A. \
— 463. wol . . c. F, thus we wolen
conclude A ; we F A,
yee Sh.
— 464. yow F A, wol Sh.
— 466. thise F, tho A.
— 467. punisshement A.
— 469. m F, ynne A ; more F, om,
A ; come more F, retourne
Sh.
— 471. thatSh.
— 472. the ayer F, their A, }»eyre
Sh.
— 473. Million F A, legyoun Sh.
— 476. and . . . and F A, foure h.
yeres and Sh.
256
in.
JERESLAUS'S WIFE, p. 140-178.
Some Various Keadings from MS. Reg. 17 D 6, leaf 99 &o.
140/1. actes D, leestes R.
— 2. Whilom D, Somtyme R.
— 3. lereslaus D, Gerelaus R.
— 6. Vngarie D, Hungerye R.
— 16. foorth wole I D, wole T forth
R.
— 16. bed p, bedde R.
— 17. gan in him D, in hym gan R.
— 19. left R.
— 24. hyde fro thee D, from the
hide R.
— 26. Ne nat D, Nor not R
141/27. for thy D, theifoie R.
— 32-3. al . . . smal D, att, smutt R.
— 39. longe to D, long to. I R.
— 40. abood D, abode R.
— 44. syn D, eitheii R.
— 63. hire D, to hir R.
■^ 64. kiste . . . farewel D, left . . .
now farewele R.
— 65. nat dreedith D, drede not R.
142/67. and D, the R.
— 69. the boke kan not R.
— 61. kepe R, kepte D ; R om. out.
143/86. )»at D, no R.
— 88. R alters this line and puts it
for 91.
— 96. Truste wele it. none other
itR.
— 97. hir, whan he fonde R.
— 99. sy D, sawe R.
— 100. Nat . . . stynte D, And that
he ne stynte woltf R.
— 102. thempire D, the Empire R
— 108. thempire D, this Empire R.
143/109-10. al . . . shal D, att . . .
shatt R.
— 111. vnhad . . . bad D, not hadde
. . . badde R.
144/122. it ... is D, it is wele
knowen R.
— 1 25. V8 warante and avowe R.
— 127. doutith D, dredeth R.
— 131. anoon areest D, areste
anone K
— 136. Then thought he thus R.
145/139. vttirly shatt I R
— 144. hve R, by D.
— 154. & D, & my R.
— 156. of . . . deeth D, on mys-
cheuous detli to R
— 163. yf that I wish R.
146/172. often it happeth. that
womans R.
— 175. did grete harm R.
— 180. now D, goode R
— 181. ryde foorth D, now rideth R.
— 187. sue D, folwe R
— 194. shoop D, shope R.
147/199. ago . . . syn D, feme agone
. . • sithen R.
— 203. be doon D, I do R
— 212. But my lords the Emperour
R
— 224. help at al D, other helpe R.
148/226. manaces D, manace ne R.
— 226. Koth she . of the R
— 229. J»at this for D, this for an R.
— 232. left al D, withouten more R.
— 240. blustred D, blasted R.
256
Collations of ' Jeredaus^s Wife!
148/246. amen R, D. (ym.
— 246. false D, thou fals R
— 248. willy to D, willyng to do R.
— 260. the D, and worthy R.
— 261. foule enemye R.
149/268. bettidde Reg., betid D.
— 269. kidde Reg., hid D.
— 263. I . . . and \>at with bold D.
I wote wele with bolde
R.
— 266. go D, ayein go Reg.
— 266. forth tett D, telle forth R.
— 267. }»at . . . had D, she so hade
R.
— 269. Erl D, Erie R.
— 271. blyue D, futt blive R.
— 279. the D, this R.
— 280. qi4od D, kotli R.
160/281. ferre R, fer D.
— 297. >at thee list D, the luste to
R.
— 307. the D, this R.
— 308. hire aftir D, after, hir R.
161/310. lay therl D, as lay the
Erie R.
— 313. was . . . This D, Was this
R.
— 316. good . . . reft D, goode . . .
bereft R.
— 320. herte D, hert to R.
— 322. holde D, holden R.
— 324. shal D, may R.
— 325-6. wilt D, wolt R.
— 328. sy D, sawe R.
— 330. fro . . . foorth D, bisily R.
162/338. bed . . . )>at D, bedde.
where as R.
— 340. purposid D, purpos and R.
— 361. him D, he hym R.
163/366. )>at D, that, that R.
— 370. bed D, bedde R.
— 371. bybled D, forbledde R.
— 381. now no lenger R.
— 383. flayn D, slayn (so in 380) R.
— 392. that it not so were R.
164/394. In the D, In att the R.
— 396. namely / & D, and namely
R.
— 403. He to hir spak R.
— 409. he deceyued D, deceyued
heR.
— 413. qwit hast D, hast quytte R.
— 414. walkefortUR
— 422. for shee had seide R.
156/430. broke R.
— 442. saue D, to sane R.
166/466. foot D, fete R. Derf iw]
— 467. Whidir D, Wherto R.
— 460. longe his lady fro R.
— 461. agayn D, ayenst R
— 466. how D, that R.
— 467. shap . . . eek D, and shap .
. and R.
167/476. & D. nor R.
— 477. fer D, ferre R.
— 480. of ... ne D, or ... or R.
— 486. can D, kun R.
— 490. her . . . thogh D, is her
nature and yit R.
— 494. chaunge wole . lest it myght
hurtR.
— 499. this D, that R.
168/609. ga D, go R.
— 610. Vnto my ladyes In . for she
R.
— 621. heere y D, I here R.
— 626. he seide D, koth he R.
169/536. wilt so D, wolt now E.
— 644. in no weertee R.
— 668. to thyn owne D, vnto thy R.
160/669. Take goode heede therof
R.
— 670. thow D, right R.
— 671. be than goode . hens forto R.
— 672. Elles att thy labour may
theR
— 673. For I wole lede . hir home R
— 679. Thow hast hade or this R
— 683. yeue D, and yeve me R.
— 686. had . . . deuel D, hade . . .
fend R
161/690. clothes . . .his D, his
clothes out of the R
— 591. to bye D, forto bey R
— 697. Syn J?at D, Sithen R
— 609. this best is D, this is best R
— 616. hire he to the ship D, he to
the shipman hir R.
162/626. maad ...ID, haue 1
made R.
— 627. That there shatt neuer man .
so R.
— 628. thyng . . . outake D, no
thyng . . . saue R.
— 632. wel D, this R.
— 634. middes D, the myddes R.
— 643. the D, your R.
163/666. and gan anone R.
Collations of 'Jereslmis's Wife*
257
163/657. she D, and R.
— 658. Made she . as 1 shaii to you
reherce R.
— 664. deitee D, dignitee R.
164/675. fil D, shope R.
— 683. Where . the ladyes R.
— 689. yaf . . . a D, shope and yufe
suche R.
165/703. told haue D, haue tolde R.
— 712. roop D, rope R.
— 713. Potagre D, Potakir R.
— 725. qwyte . . . D, wole you
quyte B.
— 726. swich D, suche R.
— 728. ye shait it bey fiitt soure.
166/732. herd D, herdf R.
— 735. hele wel D, wett hele R.
— 741. they . . . D, and they haste
R.
— 746. deuoutly D, deuoutely R.
167/757. The Abbesse hir made.
approche his hye pre-
sence R.
— 758. hid D, couered R.
— 767. about D, aboute R (there).
— 771. That was the knyght . the
theef . and the shipman
R.
— 777. dirke D, grete R.
— 782. Be cured . tett on) R.
— 784. is ... D, it is . to perseuere.
168/785. For the fourme R.
— 795. hool D, hole R.
— 798. Telle out D, Sey on) R.
— 803. I . . . D, mercy I you R.
— 807. he thoghte D, thought he R.
— 811. )>atD, euerR.
169/813. And how he . . . hade be-
traide R.
— 817. been vnpayed D, be delaide
R.
— 831 . hira wolde D, it woltf him R.
— 832. mis D, lakke R.
170/841. purpos D, tale R.
— 842. thow dem. D, and demony-
ake R.
— 847. han ... D, the grounde
haue R.
— 848. sharp D, sharpe R.
— 852. confesse D, to confesse R.
— 863. And betooke hir. the charge
and the cure R.
— 864. a D, his R.
— 866. there a mis D, a wikkedf R.
HOCOLEVE, M.P. — II.
171/872. euere D, ay B.
— 873. vnto . . . D, to my luste nor
R.
— 878. the D, this B.
— 881. And thynke . that no wight
elles R.
— 882. this D, that R.
— 889. Whan that 1 for my gilte R.
— 893. of D, for R.
— 895. where I dede shul(J haue
beR.
— 896. lyf D, gilt R.
172/897. asD, wasR.
— 898. hy D, hir K.
— 900. Betraide I hir R.
— 901. him . . . D, Shope hym . . .
delavee R.
— 902. fer D, forthe R.
— 904. a ... I D, a faire gentitt
lady I R
— 906. haue hire D, hir haue R.
— 912. haf . . . claf D, hafe . . .
clafe R.
— 923. On . . . seide D, On curteys
height, right R.
173/925. haue of me D, taken R.
— 927. seeknesse ... his D, desese
. . . her R.
— 939. wrecche D, man R.
— 941. kus D, cosse R.
— 946. Inow thus D, is at an R.
— 947. vnto his Paleys D, to his
paleys goth R.
— 948. good . lady the Emperice .
with hym gan wende R.
— 949. lyueden D, ledde her lyfe R.
— 950. his D, the R.
— 952. list D, wole R.
MS. Reg. 17 D vi. leaves out page
174.
175/16. the rather* D, the r. and the
sonner R.
— 17. scripture D, writte R.
— 22. & makynge D, f>at maken R.
— 27. whereof D, wberfore R.
176/14. hukynge D, Wirkyng R.
— 30. soule wole D, soules wolen R.
177/4. vp 80 doun D, bakward< R.
— 26. the feend D, jiis world? R.
— 34. tomed D, turneth R
178/2. infest D, effect R.
178. R. has in margin ^Discipulus.
Cum ofimes homines n.
s. d . . .*
8
258
Collations of 'Jereslaus^s Wife,^
178/16. 80 D, to R.
179/2a lerne to dye R.
— 33. But telle me this . herof wold
I lere R.
— 34. B adds to Latin * moriendi
cam mors mon habitus
set priuacio esse nos-
catifn*
— 38. swetnesse D, richesse R.
179/41. me D, me so R.
— 45. ay . wote he futt weti R.
180/54. hire D, hym R.
— 67. many oon D, hym R.
— 72. led away D, awey haue ledde
R.
— 74 vnto . . holde D, to that lortf
yhold R.
(CoUation incompUU.)
259
GLOSSARY.
By MR. THOMAS AUSTIN.
Aart, «6. art, 13/ 150, 26/32.
Abiect, jpp. cast off, 222/199.
Abstinence, sb. putte in a., forbear
from, 154/406
Acat, acate, sb, purchase, 31/i8i,
70/100.
Accomplice, vb, t accomplisli, 152/
341.
Adawid, pp. adawed, awakened,
153/369.
Affeee, vb. t Bcare, 233/482.
Affesid, pp. scared, 229/379.
Affoortlie, vb. t. bestow, 217/46.
Ageyn, prep, before, in presence of,
I66/745.
Aght, aught, 22/440, 82/252.
Agilt, vb. int sin, 69/64, ^"gylte,
IO8/366 ; V. t. sin against, I7/270,
168y;8o4.
Agrysid, pp. terrified, 1 96/476.
Alleggen, vh. t. alleviate, 6/198.
All halwen day, «6. All Souls* Day
(Nov. 1), 212/926.
Al masse, sb. alms, 1 94/424.
Amonestynge, sb. warning, 2O8/820.
Apalle, ui. int, slacken, 98/74.
Appert, adj. apert, open, 33/270.
Arettist, vb. t. imputest, layest, 12/
113.
Arghnesse, sb. timidity, reluctance,
38/435.
Arte, 1^. compel, constrain, 37/396,
62/8.
Aspen, adj. trembling, 63/17.
Asseeth, sb. expiation, penance, 196/
482.
Assoill, vb. t. grant, 222/ 182.
Atake, vb. overtake, I48/239.
Attame, vb. t atame, subdue, 10/
45-
Atte = at the, 1 95/460, 1 96/486.
Attempree, adj. temperate, 4O/13.
Auriculeer, adj. auricular, 11 /81.
Aweertee, sb. cautiousness, O. Fr.
averti, 159/544.
Baar, vb. t. bare, 8/241.
Bake, sb. back, 29/127.
Bapteeme, sb. baptism, 9/38.
Bayte, vb. t. refresh, 15/206.
Beer, vb. t. bare, imp. tense, I/44.
Beg'ilty pp. ? deluded, I92/372.
Begone, pp. well b., prosperous,
95/11 ; wers begoon, worse beset,
231/445 ; conip. woe-begone.
Bete, vb. t. beat; *bete this pavy-
ment' (pavement), 102/186. Com-
pare Fr. battre le pa/o4*
Bille, sb. bill of a bird, 44/42.
Bit, vb., bad. 34/28o, 229/376.
Blent, pp. blinded, 225/28o.
Blyue, adv. quickly, 4/125, 34/28o.
Bobance, sb. boasting, I9O/321.
Bolne, vb. int. swell, rise, 172/0 13.
Bolnynge, ppL. bolning, swelling,
10/49.
Boncheef, sb. good fortune, pros-
perity, 221/172.
Bote, sb. cure, §7/49.
Brede, sb. in b., abroad, IO/70.
Breeth, «6. breath, 2/80.
Breid, sb, braid, attack, I82/115.
Brid, sb. bird, 8O/184.
Brigge, sb, bridge, boat-stairs. 31/
194 : cp. *y* Quenes bredge ana
*rreuy bredge* at Westminster,
in Braun and Hogenberg*s map
of 1672.
Broke, sb, brook, lOO/i 52.
Brydillees, adj. bridlele8!=, ^IjyZ.
Brygelees, adj. brigueless, without
dispute, 13/164.
8 2
260
Bukkjfibe, ad§. fliglitj, skitdaL, un-
wettled, 99/123,
B .t, cM^'. iinle««, 27/57, 190 '326.
Bjrbled, j»p. bebled, bloodr. 7/230.
B/e, t6. 1 mby, pa/ for, sofier for,
160/728.
Byheet^, r*. tni. promise, 226/302.
2::;>J,625.
Bykneew, «6. t confessed, 238/
634.
Byiiienetb, 1:6. U bemoan, bewail,
imper. 7/231.
BjDome, pp, of heniwi, taken away
fr«-Fm, 6/189.
Bytake, ti. /. hand OTer, 166/452.
CaUte, j6. /. drab, quean, 1 3/147.
Cape, t>6. wrf. gi4>^ A., I91/350.
Careyiie, j6. carcase, O. Fr. caroitte,
I89/306.
Cast, j6. intention, I91/348.
Cheertee, chiertee, j6. affection, 22-
433» 40/21, 137/777, 205/710, 219,
87 ; comfort, 48/32.
Cbek, ^. clieck, at cbess, 184/ 161.
Cbepe, tb. t. buy, 21 6/1 3.
Cbeuice, tb. provide, provide for,
28/IOI, a*/285.
Clienissance, tb,, achievement, com p.
vb. cheuis, Cursor M, L 8329, 132
621.
Cliincby, adj, niggard, 29/136.
aiyWIy, adj. childly, childigli, 27/
64.
Citein, s&. citizen ; comp. Fr. ctto2feii^
202/627.
Clappe, vb. chatter, 2I/396, 37/394,
40/37, 127/489.
Clee, «6. claw, 191 /345.
Clight, pp. clenched, I82/124.
Cloudeiul, adj. cloudy, dark, black,
55/109.
Cokir, 90. high-low, 190/3 12.
Combreworldes, ib. cumberworlds,
useless mortals, 32/225.
Compleyne, t?6. t. complain of,
blame, Fr. se plaindre, 86/342,
57/17.
Conceitlees, adj, ignorant, 232/458.
Conpaig^e, «&. company, attendants,
companionship, 149/26o, I5I/329,
1 64/683.
Conpassid, vb, compassed, devised,
lW/330^
<.'oopel, ik L compeL 26 yx
Cor.pleyne, pity, Fr. jrfflmrfrc, 36/
341*
Conpnact- pp. tooched with com-
punction, 199 562.
Cor.staiice, 9b. constaccv, Fr. am>
jteee, 157/488.
Cotidlan, md^ qnotidian, daily. Lat.
quotidiamus, 26 25.
Couvne, j6. scoundrelism. 9/21. * II
ei tput him imOe la combine.
Hee is well acquainted wiui thine
packing ; he knows fu 1 well how
the matter hath beene carried.'
161L Cotgrave.
Cristientee, j6. Christendom, O. Fr.
erediemUf I56/453.
Crois, j6. cross, Fr. erotz, 5/149.
Cure, j6. care, heed, 8I/219.
Daswed, pp. dazed, 57/9.
Deceyoable, adj. deceitful, 237/59a
Deeth, tb, death, 5/162.
Delauee, adj. O. Fr. dedave; washed
away (Cotgrave), loose, lawless,
172/901.
Deliure, vb, t. deliver, 154/4 12, 161/
590- .
Demoniak, tb. one possessed with a
devil, 170/843,
Deprane, tb. t. speak ill ofL scandal,
slander, 3O/171.
Dere, vb. t. hurt, harm, IO7/348.
Dereworthe, adj. precious, 1 95/448,
197/498.
Deskeuere, «6. discover, let out.
150/283.
Despende, vb. t. dispend, expend,
spend, 8/244, 38/415, I87/239.
Despense, tb. dispense, laying out,
liberality, 36/342.
Desteyned, pp. sullied, 36/340.
Dever, tb. devoir, duty, 158^531.
Dewynge, tb. dewing, moistening,
5/158.
Deynouse, adj. proud, 78/i5a
Diadeeme, tb. diadem, 1 5/232.
Do foorth, keep on, 4I/15.
Doel, tb. dole, pity, 0. Fr. dod, Fr.
cfettiZ, 5/153.
Doghtir, sb. daughter, I5O/296, 152/
339.
Dokke, vb. t. cut off, kill, I59/541.
Dotepol, s&. dodipoll, fool, 217/49.
Glossary.
261
Doiiblenesse, 5&. deception, 73/21,
237/S90.
Dreche, vh, vex, IO6/308.
DresB, dresse, vh, t. direct, bend,
I6O/588, I64/691, 210/856.
Drye, ib, i. suffer, 1 96/474.
Doumb, adj. Prov; — 'the doumb
man, no lond getith,* t. e. one
must speak, if one wants any-
thing, 38/433.
Dyuyse, vh, devise, 24/511.
Eerly, adv, early, 31/ 180, 62/21.
Eerthe, sb, earth, 3/io6, 6/148, 22/
428.
Eerthely, adj, earthly, 1 7/292, 297,
200/586.
Egal, adj. equal, Fr. egal, 5/i68 ;
egall, 115/156.
Eilid, 1*6. ailed, 9/25.
Enable, vb. t. make fit for, 1 7/272.
Enchantour, sb. enchanter, deceiver,
32/225.
Knchesoun, sb. cause, reason, 0. Fr.
enchesonj 48/ 18, 64/6 1, 89/42^.
Enhabit, vb, t. set as inhabitant,
17/280.
Ensaumple, vb. t, give example to,
66/64, 131/604.
Ensele, vh. t. enseal, seal, 234/5 16.
Entaille, sb. entail, intaglio, 21/
410.
Entaillid, pp. unalterably attached,
167/488.
Enteer, adj. entire, 6O/29.
Eschu, adj. shy, 0. Fr. eschin, 2I/403.
Eschue, vh. t avoid, 0. Fr. escheveVy
6/193, 14/192, 32/216.
Esmnye, vb. t. dismay, 207/7 74.
Estaat, sb. estate, 88/430.
Estren, sb, Easter, I76/25.
Euenhede, sb. evenness, fairness,
177/3.
Exaltat, pp. exalted, 237/592.
Exaudicioun, sb. pardon (t. e, God
hearing him), 44/30.
Exitynge, sb. exciting, urging, 118/
234-
Falluce, sb. outrage, 0. Fr. faUace,
I6O/283, 226/298.
Fauel, sb. flattery, 0. Fr. favd, 31/
211, 32/223, 33/244.
Fawe, adj. fain, I82/124, 286/549.
Feendly, a4j' fien^y, devilish, 149/
253, I62/340.
Feere, in, in company, together,
229/371.
Felawshipe, sh, fellowship, com-
pany, retinue, I48/239.
Feme), adj. female, Fr./emeZZe, 216/
13-
Ferdful, adj. fearful, timid, 46/47.
Fern, adv. far, long, 3I/196, 147/
199.
Fet, pp. fetched, 2O3/663.
Feynter, sh. appeaser, stayer, 62/i2.
Feynyngly, ado, feigningly, I9I/359.
Ficche, vb, t fix, 4O/9, 46/72, 63/46.
Flaumbes, sb, flames, 0. Fr. flanibe^
197/513,204/699.
Foleie, foleye, vh. mt, act foolishly,
be stupid, play the fool, 49/47, 60/
46, 163/65 1.
Foltyshe, adj, foolish, IO4/243, 1 16/
147.
Folwe, vh. t follow, 68/23.
Foreward, sh. bargain, 230 /405.
Forthynke, vh. repent, 239/652.
Forthoghte, vb. t. repented, IO/59.
Forueye, vh. mt. go out of the path,
stray, Fr. fourvoyer, 49/44, 69/79.
Fourneys, sb, furnace, Fr. founiaisey
196/493.
Foryite, vb. t. forget, I34/672.
Foysoun, sh. foison, abundance, Fr.
foison, 8/244, 10/71.
Franesie, sb, frenzy, Fr. fr^nesicy
166/7 1 5.
Freend, sb. friend, 26/46.
Fretynge, adj, fretting, vexing, 213.
Frete, vb. int. fret, devour, 239/66 1.
Fructifie, vb. int. be fruitful, 178/ 17.
Fructuous, adj. fruitful, 67/ii.
Fyn, 86. fine, end, Fr. fin, 2/59.
Fynt, vh, finds, 180/68.
Gabbe, vh. int. lie, comp. 0. Fr.
gaher, 1 69/540.
Gal we tree, sh, gibbet, 1 66/436;
galwes, 177/7.
Gaste, vb, t, aghast, frighten, 200/
597.
Gastful, adj. ghastly, dreadful, 203/
669, 204/687.
Gastness, sb. fearful state, 44/27.
Genterie, sb. gentleness, kindness,
courtesy, 1 64/684.
262
Qlcnary.
Gere^ <&. gear, 1 3/159.
Girt, pp, thurgh g., struck through,
230/388.
Gleede, «6. glede, glowing coal, 30/
159.
Gole, sb. al thy gole — ? all that is in
thy mouth, Fr. gtieuU, 1 59/545.
G008, »6. goose; Pro v. 'shoo the
goos,* 19/337. Ferrer les oye$.
To spend both time and labour
verie vainly. 1611. Cotgrave.
Gouemail], ah, governance, 150/
300.
Govemeresse, «6./. governess, 150/
298.
Graine, th, L vex, 43/57.
Grede, vb. i, cry for, 47/109; ^^^'>
50/36, II6/173.
Gree, tb. recompense, O.Fr. gre, 204/
694.
Greeuable, a<ij. grievous, 182/iii.
Greeues, sb. griefe, 3/90.
Grownde, tb, i. ground, base (as
groundwork), 66/46.
Grype, vb. t grip, get, IOI/265.
Gye, r6. t guide, 6/207, ^3/49, 155/
433-
Haun, ban, vb. have, 3 shig, 197/
523, 198/524-7.
llaast, vb. hast, 7/21 1, 8/7, 192/
372.
Haaste, vb. int. liaste, 3I/208, 166/
741, 190/330.
Haf, vb. int. heaved, I72/912.
Halke, sb. recess, 2O/382 ; dirke
haJke of Helle, 23/478; IOO/133.
Hals, sb. neck, 165/7 12.
Hawe, 86. haw, *not worth an W
(used like straw), trifle, 37/380,
67/20.
Ileedlynge, ad/o. headlong, hastily,
133/647.
Ileeng, vb. -in*, hung, 149/274, 164/
696.
Heer, sb. hair, 170/86o.
Heetith, vb. t promise. 68/40.
Helply, adj. helping, I97/508.
Hente, vb. t. seize, 203/67 5.
Heolly, hoolly, adv. wholly, 8/109,
112.
Herkne, vb. t. hearken to, 179/22.
Heme, sb. nook, recess, 2O/382.
Hertly, adj. hearty, 72/7.
Hidles, in, secretly, sl^ ly, Fr. an la-
pinois^ covertly, closely, secretly
(Cotgrave), 202/645.
Hokir, sb. scorn, I36/741, I89/310.
The gloss has app. 'loathsome-
ness,' in last case.
Honure, vb. t honour, 2I/412.
Houbbonde, vb. t. husband, 68/24.
In, ab. house, dwelling, I5C/450,
158/513.
Inconparablely, ad^. incomparably,
6 syll., 187/257.
Inne, vb. t. take in, house, I56/459,
469.
Inpudence, ab, shamelessness, 27/62.
Issynge, sb. issuing, exit, comp. O.Fr.
tMcr, 202/629.
Kakele, vb. int. cackle, chatter. 13/
148.
Keepe, vb. int., heed, reck ; weepe^
A. ; 185/1 83.
Kerfe, «6., wake of sliip, 1 85/203.
Kneew, t?6. knew, 26/44.
Knyf, «6. leyd his k., set his knife
by me, sat by me, 28/ii2.
Konnynge, adj. clever, skilful, 166/
732.
Kus, sb. kiss, 2/75, 3O/155, 173/941.
Kut, sb. luck, Jot (bit of cut stick),
138/789: *the cut lil to the
Knight.*— Cant. Tales, Prol. 845.
Kythe, vb. t. make known, bestow,
show, 4/120, 38/406, 42/42, 81/
224.
Laach, adj.y lax, 0. Fr. lasche, Fr.
IdchCy 1 88/267.
Labbe, sb. blab, blabber, 159/542.
Lache, vb, int. be lax, or remiss,
191/362.
Laddre, sb. ladder: charity the
ladder to heaven, 8/1.
Lagh, 56. scot, score, 65/33.
Lame, adj. lacking, wanting, IO/47,
7O/90.
Large, adj. liberal, Fr. large^ 40/ 16 ;
* at our large,' in freedom, 43/8.
Leautee, sb. good faith, O.Fr. leaute,
212/922.
Leene, adj. lean, poor, 88/408.
Leepre, 86. leprosy, 1 66/740, 167/
763.
Glossary,
263
Leepre, «6. leper, 1 64/698.
Let seen, inim. let us see 1 come !
66/64, 211/883.
Lewde as an asse, ignorant as an
ass, 19/352.
Light, sb, * stand in own 1.*, fig,
194/440.
Lightlees, adj, ligktless, unenlight-
ened, 28/88.
Liueree, «6. livery, * of St. George's
1.* a true knight, 42/54.
Loken, pp. closed, locked, 151 /334.
Lokir, «o. locker, 190/3 13.
Loos, sb, praise, reputation, 0. Fr.
lo*, 36/345, 167/494.
Los, sb. loss, 173/945.
Losengeour, »6. losenger, flatterer,
32/220.
Lowe, tb, flame, 76/6 1, 204 /703.
Lyme, vb. t. lime with birdiiuie,
33/244.
Lyn, vb, mi, lie, 6/157.
Lyte, adj, lite, little, 2I/400; *a
lyte and lyte/ by little and little,
28/92,231/427.
Miad, pp. made, 9/i7; 'maad hath
thy nerd,' deceived thee ; comp.
Fr. faire la barbe A, 23I/433.
Faire barbe de foarre d. To de-
ceive, delude, abuse. 1611. Cut-
grave.
Macche, «6. match, 34/307.
Madde, vb. int. act madly, 232/453.
Mafey, interj. Bless me I Fr. Ma foi.
0. Fr. Mafei, III/41.
Maistrie, sb. mastery, masterpiece,
wonderful thing, 0. Fr. maistrie,
1^/676.
Maistrieth, vb. masters, overcomes,
comp. 0. Fr. maistre^ 66/35.
Make, sb. mate, companion, lA/s?-
Manly, adj, hmnan, like a nuin,
1 67/783.
March andie, 56. merchandise, L. Lut.
marchaiuHoy 1 68/5 11.
Martire, sb. martyrdom, Fr. martyie,
97/63.
Martre**, sb. torment, torture, I/55,
Mate, vb. t. overwhelm, crush, 62/23.
Maugree, sb. ill-will, blame, 1 38/795 ;
mawgree, 87/376.
Mediatrice, sb. f. mediatrix, 1 6/2 56,
44/14.
Meede, sb, meed, reward, Yllj 20,
Meermaide, sb. mermaid, 32/236.
Mees, sb. piessuages, 0. F. mes,
86/334.
Meetre, vb, metre, 5O/48.
Merciable, adj, mercijful. I9O/335.
Mesel, adj, leper, metapn., 1 68/797.
Meselrie, sb, leprosy, metaph., see
adj., 1 67/763.
Menlumyne, vb, enlumine (illumine)
me, 53/37.
Mescreance, sb. misbelief, 0. Fr.
mescr^arwe, 42/50.
Messageer, sb, inessager, messenger,
120/293; messager, I2O/290.
Miry, adj, merry, ^^j^Zy.
Mis gyed, pp. misguided, 32/228 ;
* mis ' belongs also to * led.'
Mischeeue, vb. int» mischieve, be
unfortunate, 166/724- I98/544 :
written separately in first case.
Mis-tyden, 'd). happen ill, I33/644.
Modir, sb. mother, i. e. the church,
40/25.
Moustre, vb. t. muster, shew, 5O/26.
Mowled, pp. become mouldy, 62/3.
Myhelmesse, sb. Michael mus, 95/2.
Mynge, vb. t. touch, call to mind,
mention, 21/424, II2/52, I25/429.
Myrith, vb. t. sets in the mire, 36/
355-
Nad, had not,41/i8, 169/8i8; nadde,
I8O/72; nade, 86/357.
Naght, nought, I7/288.
Nake, vb, t, strip, 86/353.
Nappe^ t?6. int. take a nap, 23I/423.
Nurt = art not, I/48.
Nas = ne was, was not, 67/i i, 183/
149.
Neede, sb. Prov. * Neede (necessity)
hath no lawe,' 39/437.
Nere, vh. ne were, were not, II4/130,
148/242.
Nightirtale, th. nightertale, night-
time, 34/306.
Nobleye, sb. nobility, grandeur, 16/
217, 48/42.
Nones, sb. nones tyde, noontide,
4/135.
Noot, vb. ne wot, know not, 171/
886.
Norttire, sb. breeding, I7O/865.
Nouelrie, «6. novelry^ novelty, 26/38.
264
Glossary.
Nusance, tb. hurt, damage, I5O/308.
Nyce, adj. fastidiousi hard to please,
78/148.
Nycetee, sb. nicety, 0. Fr. niceUy sim-
plicitie or simplenesse (Cotgrave),
49/17 ; stupidity, 147/2o8.
Obliquitee, «6. obliquity, bias, falsity,
240.
On, prep, over, 49/43; occupied
with, 149/268.
One, u6. t, unite, I8I/82 ; oned, pp.
united, 176.
Onhede, sh. onehead, unity, I6O/576,
213.
Ore, sb, mercy, 110/ 5.
Ouersy, vb. t. oversaw, perused,
174/6.
Outake, pp. except, 1 62/628.
Oute, vh. t. utter, 217/43.
OutrancCj sb. lust gasp, 2/82, 42/36,
68/48.
Outrayed, pp. deleted, blotted out,
17/279.
Owter, sb. outer, utterer, 49/17.
Paart, sh. part, share, 3/104, I3/152.
Palesie, sh. palsy, 166/705.
Pamfilet, 56. pamphlet, poem, book,
49/1.
Paramont, adj. (French), above (like
en amont)^ 8.
Parfomed, |9p. performed, 65/91.
Partie, sh. party {en champ clos),
duel, 134/691.
Payndemayn, sb. 'pain de main,'
small fine bread, cake, or biscuit :
»not worth a p.', 1 23/383.
Peis, sh. weight, IO8/360, II3/105.
Penylees, adj. pcnnyless, 29/130.
Permanable, adj. permanent, 207/
767.
Peyse, vh. int. weigh, II2/54.
Picchid, pp. thrown, 2O6/760.
Piler, sh. pillar, 41 /i 3, I92/381.
Pit, sb. grave, 28/95.
Pith, sh. strength, 2O/392.
Pleneer, plener, adj. full, 1 96/480,
227/323.
Plenteuous, adj. plentiful, I68/507.
Possid, pp. pushed, 204/701.
Potagre, adj. gouty, 1 66/7 13.
Potestat, sb. prince, great man,
potentate, 142/68, 214.
Pouert, sb. poverty, 177.
Pows, sb. pulse, Fr. potds^ 203/66a
Prayeere, sb. prayer, 22/446.
Precioustee, sb. preciosity, value,
costliness, I87/241, 2O7/783.
Preide, vb. pray^, IO/56.
Principat, «6. prince, 214.
Priuee, adj. sequestered, private,
147/201.
Processe, «6. suit, pleading, 74/43.
Promette, vb. promise, 1 68/802.
Prosperable, adj. prosperous, 182/
112.
Prosperitee, «6. Pro v.: *Pro8peritee
is biynd, & see ne may,' 26/34.
Pryuynge, sb. priving, annihilation,
179/35.
Purchace, vb. t. get, 197/5oa
Pyke, vb. t. pick, a thank, I64/399 ;
pp. 221/164.
Pyne, vh. t. punish, I96/492.
Queinte, adj. quaint, notorious, 110/
1 5, quettCf below ; queynt, cunn-
ing, 78/152.
Queme, vb. make placable, appease,
74/39, 109/397 : qweeme, 9/40.
Ragerie, sb. rage, 223/221.
Redde, vb. t. advised, 28/105.
Reed, sb. advice, 28/io8.
Keedy, adj. ready, I66/738.
Reewe, vb. int. rue, haue pity, 7/
238, 12/131, 207/769; repent, 23/
467.
Refut, refuyt, sh. refuge, Fr. refuite,
63/6, 63/42, 68/41.
Regne, sh. kingdom, 242.
Regne, vb. int. * Regne on * = reign
over, 49/43.
Reme, sh. realm, 86/333.
Repagitrice, sb.f. renewer, Fr. r^-
pa/ratrice, 88/403.
Rere, vb. t. rear, raise, 2O/388.
Respyt, sb. put in r. = put off, ^1 JK).
Rode, sb. road, 76/ 102.
Hogged, vh. int. shook, pulled
roughly, comp. Sc. rt«gf, 1 62/35 5.
Rood, vh. int. rode, 149/268.
Hoop, «6. rope, 1 66/7 12.
Roost, sh. roast, 36/363.
Rowne, vb. round, whisper, 11 /93.
Rownyngly, adv. roundingly, in the
ear, 30/ 17 2.
Glossary.
265
Sad, adj, settled, firm, 1 23/366.
Sadde, vb. int. get sober, 222/175.
Salut, adj. safe, 59/22.
Sanz, pr^. sans, without, 1 72/903.
Sauer, sb. saver, saviour, 62/io.
Sauf, prep, save, I54/405.
Sauuacioun, sh. salvation, 45/53, 56/
135.
Sauueour, sh. saviour, 22/428, 52/25.
Sawte, sb. saut, jump, Fr. smit^ 101/
162.
Say, vb. t. saw, 1 53/378.
Scars, adj. scarce, scanty, 1 6/243.
Seeclie, sb. seek, 234/514.
Seege, sb. siege, I4/197.
Senefee, sb. mustard, Gr. trivawi, 240.
Sent, sb. scent, 149/272 ; * by tlie
sent,* by the perception, 170/8 50.
Seur, adj. sure, Fr. aier, 48/i4, 149/
259.
Shadw**, sb. shadow, 67/i2.
Shamely, adv. in a shameful way,
2/84.
Sheelde, vb. shield, preserve, 165/
711.
Sheete, vb. t. shoot, 58/15.
Shenshipe, sb. blame, punishment,
Shippe, sb. coin stamped with ship,
noble = 6«. 8d, 65/29.
Shipbord, sb. shipboard, 162/6 17.
Shit, |?p. shut, 13/151.
Shone, vb. t. shun, 6/193.
Shoo, sb. * trode hir s. amis,' fig.
218/66.
Shoop, vb. shaped, happened, 146/
194, 151/332, I64/689 ; app. V. ir.
in last instance.
Shoue, vb. int. s. on, shove on, push
on, 42/36.
Shour, sb. attack, 6/207, 41/21.
Signe, sb. 'outwarde s.', i. e. the
Tavern Bush, 29/i2l.
Site, vb. int. sit, 99/125.
Sleyght, sleythe, sb. sleight, 88/
394, 5-
Slipir, adj. slipper, slippery, smooth,
122/354.
Slow, th. t. slew, I65/701.
Slow, sb. slough (of heresy), II/105.
Smerte, adj. smart, painful, 3/90.
Snake, sb. snack, 77/109.
Soleyn, adj. solitary, morose, sullen,
136/742.
Soonde, sb. dispensation, I28/522.
Sorrer, adv. sorer, more sorely, 16/
263.
Souffyse, vb. int. suffice, 14/i8o, 37/
400.
Soul, adj. sole, 177.
Soure, adv. sorely, 1 65/728.
Spectacle, sb. pair of spectacles, or
eye-glass, 2I/417, 5I/57.
Speek, vb. int. spake, I/43.
Staal, vb. int. stole, I52/335.
Staf, sb. staff, comp. staff of life,
172/915.
Steerelees, adj. steerless, rudderless,
7/223.
Steeme, adj. stern, 54/82.
Stepchyld, sb. stepchild, treated as
one, 58/23.
Sterue, vb. starve, die ; Ger. sierbeny
2/83, 6/202.
Stinte, vb. int. stay, cease, IO7/336.
Stirtemeel, adv. by starts, 203/66o.
Snppo[rt]aille, sb. support, 59/i8.
Suspectly, adv. in a suspicious way,
105/292.
Suspense, sb. doubt, delay, I83/138.
Snsteene, i;6. t. sustain, endure, 25/5.
Swal, vb. int. swelled, 96/29.
Sy, vb. t. saw, 67/3, I86/214, 187/
244.
Syk, sb. sigh, 152/ 364.
Taar, vb. t. tare, 7/239.
Taast, sb. taste, 5/158, 7/213.
Taastid, 2)p. tested, tried, examined,
O.Fr. taster, I27/485.
Taght,|9p. taught, 1 3/154.
Talent, «o. desire, O.Fr. tcdant, 147/
202, 231/420.
Tern, vb. t. take in, cheat, 236/573.
Fr. temer is * To throw a tre [trey],
or three.' 1611. Cotgrave.
Thacat = The acat,, 70/ioo.
Theefly, adj. thievish, 182/ 115.
Theefly, adv. thiefly, in a thievish
way, 152/335.
Thewe, vb. t. furnish with thews,
I8I/83.
Thirle, vb. thirl, thrill, pierce, I/52,
204/685.
Tho = those, 32/225.
Thorgh, prep, through, 75/78, 82.
Thraste, vb. thrust, 171 /879.
Three w, vb. t threw, 152/ 364.
266
Gto$KiTy»
Throwe, tb. throw, time, 2/73, 133/
649.
To and to, adv, backwards and for-
wards, about, 96/3a
Tome, «&. turn (good or bad), 236/
575-
Treecherie,j6. trickery; Fr. trtcKenef
53/48.
Treewe, adj, true, 34/277.
Triacle, sb, treacle, tJieriac, 70/i 10.
113/93.
Trice, vb. t. thrust, II7/208 ; tryce,
34/287, 119/265.
Triwe, adj. true, 79/163.
Turn, $b, tourney, 24/505.
Twyn, $b. twine, 46/71.
Twyne, twyune, vb. int. separate,
depart, 35/318, 186/183.
Twynned, pp. twinned, separated,
8/8.
Vengeable, adj revengeful, 163/
386.
Viserly, adj. ? vizor- or viznrd-like,
projecting, horrible, 2O3/678.
Vndirnonie, />p. rebuked, I26/455.
Vndisposed, vndisposid, adj. un\ re-
pared for, I84/181, 196/474, 200/
590.
Vnhad, pp. not had, unobtuined,
143/1 1 1.
Vnmeeble, adj. unmovable (of real
property), 21 9/99.
Vnnethes, adv. scarcely, 163/666.
Vnreke, unfold, II7/197.
Vnsad, adj. unsettled. IO4/255.
Vnstoken, pp. unstocked, unbarred
151/333.
Vnwasshen, pp. unwashed, of gold,
II6/182.
Waar, vb. itU. beware, 11/88.
Waast, sb. waste, 36/371.
Wafre, «6. wafer, biscuit, 29/146.
Waishe, vb. t. wash (gold), 114/io6.
Walwid,|)p. wallowed, I8/318.
Warie, vb. i. execrate, curse, 27/63.
Warisshe, vb. t. heal, O.Fr. vxirir.
\V:isshinge, sb. washing (of gold).
114/116.
Wane, vb. ?8tir, 37/399.
Wawes, «6. waves, 7/223, 1 72/920.
Weende, «6. tiii. wend, go, 160/56i»
I83/136.
Weive, vb. i. dedioe, set aside, re-
move, 113/105 ; wejTue, 6/102, 46/
70, 234/532 ; ? weave, 1 26/450.
Well be-gone, adj. happy, pro6j»er-
ouBfCom^. woe begonej 951 11. See
Stgoon.
Wemmelees, adj. stainless, 66/93.
Wepne, tb. weapons, 2O/386, 23/
471. ^
Weme, vb. n fuse, deny, 39/442, 45/
59. ^/94-
Werrey, vb. inL war, I9I/363.
Wildhede, vb. wildhood, wild wajs,
112/52.
Wit, ib. wisdom, 99/iic.
Withsitte, tb. withstand, 209/828.
Woldc, pp. wished, 84/305.
Wone, i>. custom, 34/294.
Wont, pp. wonted, 7O/107.
Woodly, adj. mad, furious, 204/7oa
Worm, s6. * The worm for to sleen
in the pesecod ; ' t. e. the maggot
(? Popery). 23/466.
Worthe, vb. int mount, 175.
Wownde, tb. wound, 69/62.
Woyde, adj. void, 88/405.
Wrechch, $b. wretch, 76/99, 85/3ia
Wroothly, adv. wrothly, in ire, 151/
329.
Wydewhere, adv. wide around, 156/
465.
Wvght, adj. quick, nhnble, 78/143.
Wyt, $b. blame, 134/667.
Ye, tb. eye, 2I/427, 213; yen (2
sylL), I88/263, 203/665.
Yeeme, yeine, sb. attention, care,
109/396, 197/521.
Yepres8e, vb. i. express, I3I/586.
Yeme, adv. eagerly, readily, 169/
560.
Ympe, t*. t. graft, 176/26.
Ynow, enough, 23/471.
Yore, adv. loii;^ a^o, IIO/4.
Y-plight, /jp. plucked, I73/928.
Y-preeued, pp. proved, experienced,
170/850.
Y-walwe,jjp. wallowed, rolled, 197/
509.
Waymentynge, sb. lamentation, 3/
103, I8I/99.
267
INDEX OP NAMES.
{ClarencUni figures are Msed for Poems.)
Aeneas, 86/309.
Albertyn, Wra., (or Alberton), Clerk
to Privy Seal, Ixii note 6, Ixv.
Arondel, a fellow-clerk of Hoccleve,
XXXV, 35/321,
Ars sciencU nwri, xxix, 178.
Ashburnhain MS., xxvi, xxvii seqq.,
xxxviii note 1, xlviii ; collation of
Letter of Cupidy 249.
Bailey, a fellow-clerk of Hoccleve,
xxYV, 6O/25, 62/8.
Beasts i Book of Nature of 82/233.
Bedford, John, Duke of, Regent of
France, xxxiv ; Ballad to bini
(sent with Regimen, of Frinces),
66 ; see note on p. 57.
Blyth, John, x note 2.
Bodley MS. 638, collation of Letter
of Chipid, 72 seqq.
Browne, Wm., praises Hoccleve,
xxiv, xliii.
Burgh, John, Clerk of Receipt, xxi,
liv note, Ixii note 1.
Carpenter, John, Town Clerk of
London, xxxiv; Ballad to hiin,
asking for money, 63.
Chancellor, Lord, xxxiv ; Ballad to
him, 68.
Chancellor Somer. See Somer.
Chancer, x note 2, xxx seqq., xxxvii,
Ixi ; bis deathbed, xxxi ; his Wife
of Bathy 135/694; payment to
him, li note.
Cherbourg, siege of, Duke of Glou-
cester shows his valour there,
xxiii, 130/567.
Chester's Inn, Strand, xviii, xxxvi.
Chichele, Robt., xxxiv ; Ballad to
Virgin translated at his com-
mand, 67.
Clifford, Rich., Keeper of Privy
Seal, li note.
Clifford, Rich., Junr., Keeper of
Wardrobe to Q. Isabella, li note.
Coin-clipping, xxii, 112/66, 114/
106; counterfeit coin, II5/142.
Complaintj Hoccleve's, 06 seqq.
Constantine, Emperor, 15/2 17, 41/
10.
Constantine, C6tentin (Manche, the
N. W. part of the province of
Normandy), xxiil, I3O/576.
Court of Good Company, Ballad sent
by them to Sir H. Somer, 64.
Chipidj Letter of, xi, xxviii, 72 seqq. ;
makes the ladies angry, I37/754 ;
collation of it with AVhbumhani
and Trinity MSS., 249 ; see Pisan,
Christine de.
Dialogue tcith a Fi-ie^idy Hoccleve's,
110 seqq.
Dido, 85/311.
Digby MS. 181, collation of Letter
of Cupid, 74 seqq.
Durham MS., xxv, xliv ; collation
of Complaint, 95 seqq. ; collation
of Dialogue, 110 seqq.
Edward Prince of Wales (Edward
IV.), 50/38, 51 note.
Fellicula, Jonathas's paramour, 222/
177 &c.
268
Index of Names,
Frank, Thos., 1:
Furnival, Lord, John Talbot, Lord
Treasurer, liv note, lix note, Ixiii
note 2, 38/417, 61 note.
Garter, Knights of the, Ballads to
them and Henry V., 41, 42.
G ascoigne.his exaggerated nonsense
about Cnaucer's deathbed repent-
ance, xxxiii.
Gerson, John, xlvi.
Gesta Bomanorum, xxiii, xxiv, 140.
Gloucester, Huinfrey, Duke of, Lord
Lieutenant, vili, 129/5 33; ** Siege
of Rouen, 132/6 10 ; Cherbourg
bears witness to his valour, 128/
611, 130/567; his return from
France, I29/543; his nobility,
131/589; had been a friend to
Hoccleve, 130 ; is a ladies' man,
135/706.
Gold, weighing of, 115, st. 20.
Hampton (Southampton), Henry V.
crosses the channel thence, 8 ;
Title.
Harflete (Harfleur), xx, 8 ; Title.
Heath, a fellow-clerk of Hoccleve,
XXXV, 6O/26, 62/8.
Henry IV., xxxiv, Ixix ; grants an-
nuity to Hoccleve, li.
Henry, Prince of Wales, afterwards
Henry V., Ballad to him, 61 : see
next.
Henry V., his marriage, xxviii,
xxxiv ; goes to France, 8 ; Bal-
lads to him, xxi, xxviii, 41, 42 ;
counsel to him, 30 ; has Richard
XL's bones laid at Westminster,
47 ; a foe to heresy, 48/23 i Ballad
to him, asking money, 62 ; was
kind to Hoccleve, 130/5 54, and
confirms his annuity, lix ; his
death, xxvi.
Henry VL confirms Hoccleve's an-
nuity, Ixvi ; Hoccleve's petition
to him for corrody, Ixviii.
Hereford, Lady, Complaint of Vir-
gin translated at her command, 8.
Heresy, in England 42/47, 48/ii,
49/46.
Hoccleve: — his life, vii, seqq. ;
where born, xxxv ; his love of
Chaucer, xxx, whose pupil he
was, xxxi, 92 ; enters Privy-Seal
Office, ix, with view of going into
the Church, x : his evil life, xii,
xiii, XV, 25 — 30 ; rackety youth
and loss of health, 25-8 ; haunted
taverns, 29, 30 ; at Paul's Head,
29 ; his work at the Privy-Sen 1
Office, 31/188 ; boating, 31 ; used
to be well off till he drank, 34/
291 ; used to borrow money, 36/
369 ; his creditors, 63 ; his yearly
grant of £10 from Henry IV.,
xi, xxi, xxvi, through the Trea-
surer, Lord Furni vail, 38/42 1 ;
payments to him, li, seqq.; ar-
rears due to him, xii ; wants pa-
tent for arrears from Lord Chan-
cellor, 58/5; ^^^^ Sub-treasurer
Somer for them, 59 ; asks Henry
V. for money, 62; seeks help
from Carpenter, Town-Clerk of
London, 63 ; has advice from
Somer, with some money, 64 ; his
marriage, xv ; his madness, xxii,
96/40; forsaken by his friends,
97/68; gets cured, IO3/234; ^'^^
illness said to be from over-study,
123/379; he denies it, 1 25/424 ;
is fifty-three years old, II9/246;
his sight is impaired, II9/249 i ^'^
corody from South wick Priory,
xxvi ; his poor cottage, xxxvii ;
his relations with his wife, xxxvii ;
his character, patrons, and friends,
xxxiv; comments on his poems,
xxxix seqq.; Poems: — Letter of
Cupid, xi ; Male jEtegle, xii, xiii ;
Foems to Somer y xiii ; De Megi-
mine, xiii seqq.; Ballad (p. 61). xix ;
Ballad (p. 47), xx ; To Sir John
Oldcastle, xx ; Ballad to Henry V.
(p. 62), xxi ; BaUad (Ashb. MS.),
xxvi, xxviii ; Complaint, xxii ;
Dialogue, viii ; Jereslatis, xxiii ;
Scite Mori, xxii ; Jonathas, xxiv ;
his Privy-Seal Documents, Add.
MS. 24,062, B. M., xxix.
Hoi cote's Comment on Wisdom of
Solomon, 33/249.
Humfrey, Duke of Gloucester, viii ;
his second return from France.
129/542 ; see GloiwesteTy Ihtke of.
Invocatio adpatrcm, etc., xxvii.
Index of Names,
269
Jason, 84/302.
Jereslaus, Emperor of Rome, 140
seqq. ; married a daughter of the
King of Hungary, 140/5 ; resolves
to go to the Holy Land, 140/i8 ;
leaves his wife regent, and his
brotlier, steward, 141/28; starts
for Palestine, I4I/56 ; hears of a
holy woman, I66/729; goes to
her abbey with his leprous brother,
I66/742 ; meets the abbess, 167/
757 ; hears of his brother's deeds
to the Empress, 169/8i3; takes
his wife home and lives a happy
life, 173/947 ; collation of the
Tale with MS. lleg. 17 D. 6,
255.
Jonathas, Tale of, xxiv, 216-242.
Justinian, 14/i8s, 22/433.
Kennington, Henry V. there, 39.
Lancelot de Lake, 14/ 195.
Learn to Die, Treatise on, xxiii,
117/205, 178.
Lucy, Walter (haberdasher, Lon-
don), payments to him for sta-
tionery in Privy-Seal Office, lix
note, Ixii, Ixiv, Ixv, Ixviii.
Male Begle, Ze, xii, xiii, 25-30.
Margaret, St., 89/421.
Marleburgh, T., xxviii, xxxv.
Massey, Mr., xxxv, 57/ 10.
Medea, 84/302.
Meun, John de, his Bomance of the
Bose, 83/281.
Mistress, Hoccleve's humourous Ba-
lade on his, xxxviii note.
Mokkyng, Nich., has corrody at
Southwick Priory, xxvi, Ixviii,
Moneyy Lady^ Chaiison to, xxix,
xxxviii note.
MS. Reg. 17 D 6, 255.
Newgate, 62/8.
Offord, a fellow clerk of Hoccleve,
xxxv, 6O/26, 62/8.
Oldcastle, Sir John, Ballad to him
on his heresy, 8 ; his riots (1414),
20/385.
Ovid, his Bemedy of Love, 8O/204,
82/246.
Paul's Head Tavern, xii, 29/143.
Pelham, Sir John, Treasurer of the
Wars, lix note.
Phillipps MS., xlii, 1—72.
Picard, tutor to Henry (V.) Prince
of Wales, xxxv, 50/ 40.
Pisan, Christine de, Epistle of Cupid,
92 ; extracts from it, 243.
Prentys, a fellow clerk of Hoccleve,
xxxv, 35/321.
Privy-Seal Office, ix note, xiv, li
seqq., 31/ 1 88, 35/3o8, IO6/296;
Privy-Seal Documents, xxix.
Prophete, John, Keeper of Privy
Seal, xiv, Ix note.
Purde, Thomas, xi note 1.
Begement ofPrhiccs, Hoccleve's, x!ii
&c.; Ballad, as Envoy to it, 61.
Richard IL, his bones moved to
Westminster, 47 ; as also his
Queen's, 48/39.
Rouen, Duke of Gloucester at Siege
of, xxiii, 132/610.
Selden MS., collation of Letter of
Cupid, 72 seqq.; collation of Com-
plainty 95 seqq.
Shirley MS. xliv, xiv, 249.
Somer, Sir Henry, Sub-treasurer,
and Chancellor of the Exchequer,
xiii, xxxiv, 58, 69, 60, 64 ; see
Hoccleve.
Southampton, 8.
Southwick Priory, Hants, xxvi,
Ixviii.
Tanner MS., collation of Letter of
Cupid, 72 seqq.
Temple, London, xiii, 64/9.
Theodosius, IO/51.
Trinity MS., Cambr., collation of
Letter of Cupid with, 249.
Tully, 122/344.
Ulysses, 33/251.
Vegetius, 130/ 561.
Virgin Mary, xxvii, xxviii, 1, 43,
62, 67.
Welde, John, Hoccleve's Clerk, xiii,
XX, xxi, xlix, Ivi, Ixviii note, Ixii
note 5.
270
Index of Names.
WeltoD, Robt, Ixii note 2.
Westminster, xxxi, 102/ 1 83; Richard
II/s bones brought to the Abbey,
47; Westm. Gate, xii, 3O/178;
Westni. Hall, xxii, 98/72.
Westmorland, Countess of. xxv,
xxxiv, 242.
York, Duke ot xxxiv, 40, 51 note ;
Duchess of York, xxxiv, 60,
(gaiflg (ftnjiijih ^t%i ^^ri^tj.
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18. Hali MMdeohad, ab. 1200, ed. Bey. O. Cockayne, re-ed. Dr. F. J. Fumiyall. (v. under 1920.) „
19. Lyndeaay'f M^yi^h^^ Ac, Part II, ed. J. Small, M.A. Zs. 6d, „
20. Biehard Bolle de Hampole, Emdiah Proae Treatiiei of, ed. Bey. Q. a. Perry, (v. under 1920.) „
21. Medin, Part n, ed. H. B. Wheatley. 4s. ^
22. Partenay or Lniignen, ed. Bey. W. W. Skeat. 6s. „
23. Dan Michel*! AyenUte of Inwyt, 1340, ed. Bey. Dr. B. Morris. 10s. 6d. ,,
24. Hymni to the Virgin and Chriit ; The Parliament of Devila, fto., ab. 1430, ed. F. J. Fumiyall. Zs. 1867
25. The Stadoni of Bome, the Pilgrimi* Sea-voyage, with Clene Maydenhod, ed. F. j. Fumiyall. is. „
26. BeUgiooi Piecei in Proae and Terae, from B. Thornton's MS., ed. Bey. G. G. Perry. 6s. [1913.] „
27. Levin'i Manipnlos Tocalnilonmi, a ryming Dictionary, 1570, ed. H. B. Wheatley. 12s.
28. WiIliam*iTiaion of Pien the Plowman, a.d. 1362 ; Text A, Part I, ed. Bey. W. W. Skeat. 6s.
29. Old Bnglilh WAmfli^ (ab. A.D. 1220-30). Series I, Part I, ed. Bey. Dr. B. Morris. Is.
30. Pierce the Plooghmani Crede, ed. Bey. W. W. Skeat. 2s.
E.S. 1. William of Paleme ; or, WilUam and the Werwolf, re-ed. Bey. W. W. Skeat, M.A. 13«.
2. Eady Engliah Pronunciation, by A. J. Ellis, F.B.S. Part I. 10s.
O.S. 31. Hyrc'i Datiea of a Pariah Prieit, in Verse, ab. a.d. 1420, ed. E. Peacock. 4s. 1868
82. Early Bngliih Meali and Mannen : the Boke of Nortnre of John Bnaaell, the Bokei of Eeroyngie,
Cnrtaaye, and Demeanor, the Babeei Book, Urbanitatii, ftc, ed. F. J. Fumiyall. I2s. „
33. The Knight de la Toor Landry, ab. aj). 1440 A Book for Daughters, ed. T. Wright, M.A. Ss, „
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O.S. 84. Old Bngliih ^nmiU^ (before a.d. 1300). Series I, Part II, ed. B. Morris, LL.D. 8s. 1868
36. Lyndeiay's Woiks, Part III. : The Historic and Testament of Squyer Meldnim, ed. F. Hall. 2«. „
E.S. 3. Cazton'f Book of Cnrteiye, in Three Versions, ed. F. J. FomiyaU. 6s, „
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6. Oumccr's Boettiiai, ed. from the two best MSS. bj Bey. Dr. B. Morris. 12s, „
6. Choffllero AfMgnf, re-ed. from the onique MS. by Lord Aldenham, M.A. ]U. „
O.S. 36. Ibdin, Part m., ed. H. B. Wheatley. On Arthurian Localities, by J. S. Staart Olennie. 12s. 1869
37. Sir Daiid Lyndeiay's Works, Part lY, Ane Satyre of the Three Estaits, ed. F. Hall, D.O.L. 4s.
88. WiDiam'i Vision of Fieri the Plowman, Part II. Text B., ed. Bey. W. W. Skeat, M.A. 10«. 6d.
39. AUiteratireBomaneeof fheDeitniotionofTroy,ed.D. Donaldson andQ.A.Panton. Parti. 10«.6<2.
E.S. 7. Early BngUih Prononoiatkni, by A. J. Ellis, F.B.S. Part II. 10«.
8. Qoeene EUsabethes Aohademy, Ac, ed. F. J. Fumiyall. Essays on early Italian and German
Books of CSourtesy, by W. M. Boesetti and Dr. E. Oswald. IZs.
9. Awdeley*iFratemityeofVacabondef,Harman'iCaveat,&c.,ed.E.VilesandF.j.FamiyalI. 7s. 6d.
O.S. 40. Eni^ish Gilds, their Statutes and Customs, a.d. 1389, ed. Toulmin Smith and Lucy T. Smith, with
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41. William Lander's Minor Poems, ed. F. J. Fumiyall. Zs.
42. Bemardns De Cnra Bei Famoliarii, Early Scottish Prophecies, &o. Ed. J. B. Lumby, M. A. 2s.
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11. Barboor's Bmoe, Part I, ed. from MSS. and editions, by Bey. W. W. Skeat, M.A. 12s.
O.S. 44. The AUiterative Bomanee of Joseph of Arimathie, or The Holy OraO : from the Vernon MS. ;
with W. de Worde's and Pynson's Liyes of Joseph : ed. Bey. W. W. Skeat, M.A. 6*. 1871
45. King Alfred's West-Saxon Version of Gregory's Pastoral Care. ed. from 2 MSS., with an English
translation, by Henry Sweet, Esq., B.A., Balliol College, Oxford. Part I. 10s.
46. Legends of the Holy Bood, Symbols of the Passion and Cross Poems, ed. Bey. Dr. B. Morris. 10«.
47. Sir tHsfid Lyndeiay's Works, Part V, ed. Dr. J. A. H. Murray. Zs,
48. The Times' Whistle, and other Poems, by B. 0., 1616 ; ed. J. M. Gowper, Esq. ds,
1*!.S. 12. W!ng*"W* in Henry VHL's Time : a Dialogue between Cardinal Pole and Lupset, by Thorn. Starkey,
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18. A Snpplioaoyon of the Beggers, by Simon Fish, a.d. 1528-9, ed. F. J. Fumiyall; with A Suppli-
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O.S. 49, An (Nd H!« g<<«h Miscellany, containing a Bestiary, Kentish Sermons, Proyerbs of Alfred, and
Beligious Poems of the 13th cent., ed. from the MSS. by the Bey. B. Morris, LL.D. 10«. 1872
60. King Alfred's West-Saxon Version of Gregory's Pastoral Care, ed. H. Sweet, M.A. Part II. 10«. „
51. The Life of St. Joliana, 2 yersions, A.D. 1230, with translations; ed. T.O.Cockayne and E. Brock. 2s, „
52. PaOadios on Hnsbondrie, englisht (ab. a.d. 1420), ed. Bey. Barton Lodge, M.A. Part I. 10«. „
E.S. 15. Bobert Crowley's Thirty-One Epigrams,Voyoe of the Last Trumpet, Way to Wealth, Ac., A.D. 1660-1,
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O.S. 53. (Hd-Enidish Homilies, Series II, and three Hymns to the Virgin and God, 13th-century, with the
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54. The Vision of Piers Plowman, Text C : Bichard the Bedeles (by WiUiam, the author of the Vision)
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55. Oenersrdes, a Bomanee, ab. a.d. 1440, ed. W. Aldis Wright, M.A. Part I. Zs. ,t
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57. The Eady English Version of the ** Cursor Mnndi " ; in four Texts, ed. Bey. B. Morris, M.A., LL.D.
Part I., with 2 photolithographic facsimiles. 10s. 6d. „
58. The Wj i^lf^^g Homilies, A.D. 971, ed. Bey. B. Morris, LL.D. Part I. 8*. ,*
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21. Baiboor's Bmce, Fart II, ed. Bey. W. W. Skeat, M.A. 4s. ,%
22. Henry Brinldow's Complaynt of Bodwyek Mbr8(ab. 1642) : and The Tiamentacion of a Christian
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23. Eady English Pronunciation, by A. J. Ellis, F.B.S. Part IV. 10s. m
O.S. 59. The " Cursor Mnndi " in four Texts, ed. Bey. Dr. B. Morris. Part II. 15*. 1876
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61. The Bomanee and Prophecies of Thomas of Erceldonne, from 5 MSS., ed. Dr. J. A. H. Murray.
io«. ed. tt
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26. Gay of Warwick, 15th-oentury Version, edi Prof. Zupitza. Part I. 20s, „
O.S. 62. The ** Corsor Mnndi," in four Texts, ed. Bey. Dr. B. Morris. Part III. Us. 18 76
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69. Adam Dafi^*s 6 Dreama aboat Edward IL, Ac, ed. F. J. FumivaU, M.A. 6*. „
70. Gen«ydei, a Romance, ed. W. Aldis Wright, M.A. Part II. 4*.
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O.S. 76. CathoUoon Anglicnm, an early English Dictionary, from Lord Monson's MS., A.D. 1483, ed., with
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76. AflUric's Metrical Lirei of Saints, in MS. Gott. Jul. E 7, ed. Rey. Prof. Skeat, M.A. Parti. 10*.
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38. Charlemagne Bomancee : 6. The Sowdone of BabyUme, ed. Dr. Hausknecht. 16*. „
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O.S. 84. Additional Analogs to * The Wright's Chaste Wife,* No. 12, by W. A. Glouston. l*. 1886
86. The Three EiagB of Cologne. 2 English Texts, and 1 Latin, ed. Dr. G. Horstmann. 17*.
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O.S. 92. Eadwine's Canterbory Psalter, from the Trin. Gambr. MS., ab. aj). 1160, ed. F. Handey, B«A.
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97. The Eadieit Engliih Froee Pialter, ed. from its 2 MSS. by Dr. K. D . Baelbring. Part I. 16«. „
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60. Lydgate*! Temple of GHaii, re-ed. from the MSS. by Dr. J. Schlick. 15«. „
O.S. 98. ninof Poema of the Vernon MS., Part I, ed. Dr. 0. Hortemann. 20«. 1892
99. Conor Mondi. Part VI. Preface, Notes, and Glossary, ed. Bey. Dr. B. Morris. 10«. „
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O.S. 117. Minor Poems of the Vernon MS., ed. Dr. F. J. FumivaU. Part II. 15*. 1901
118. The Lay Folks' Catechism, ed. Canon Simmons and Bev. H. E. Nolloth, M.A. 5*. „
119. Robert of Brunne's Handlyng Synne (1303), and its French original, re-ed. Dr. Fumivall. Part I.
10*. „
E.S. 82. Gower's Ccofessio Amantis, ed. G. 0. Macaulay, M.A. Vol. II. 15*. „
83. Lydgate's DeGuillevUle's Pilgrimage of the Life of Man, 1426, ed. Dr. F. J. FumivaU. Part II.
10*. „
84. Lydgate's Reason and Sensuality, ed. Dr. E. Sieper. Part I. 5*. „
»»
15*.
1898
15*.
»»
20*.
t*
f»
1899
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